Web posted
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Nomo gets win as Royals pound Giants
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Hideo Nomo got a spring-training win in his quest to earn a job with the Kansas City Royals. San Francisco's Barry Zito was hit hard again.
The 39-year-old Nomo, who has not pitched in the major leagues since 2005, allowed two runs in three innings during Monday's 15-6 victory over the Giants.
''I'm comfortable with the way he's progressing,'' Royals manager Trey Hillman said.
Nomo, the winningest Japanese pitcher in major league history with 123 victories, gave up four hits, struck out one and walked none. He did not pitch last season following elbow surgery in 2006.
Eugenio Velez tripled with one out and scored on Randy Winn's double. Rich Aurilia's single scored Winn, but Nomo gave up just one hit after that.
''My split-finger didn't go the way I wanted it to go,'' Nomo said through an interpreter. ''I haven't checked on my (fastball) speed. I do not care about the speed.''
Nomo has a 2.25 ERA in three starts, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and 10 hits in eight innings with six strikeouts and two walks.
Zito, 0-3 with a 17.18 ERA, allowed eight runs -- five earned -- five hits and four walks in 3 2-3 innings.
''I was working on a couple of things mechanically,'' Zito said. ''I was just trying to get comfortable with that. Obviously, the ball was up a little bit, more than I would like. I'll just get back to work tomorrow. Fastball command is everything, so I'll be working on that.''
Mark Teahen homered off Zito, who has given up 17 runs, 14 of them earned, 14 hits and six walks in three starts without any strikeouts.
''Spring training is an opportunity to implement some things in game situations so that you use the adrenaline that you don't get usually in a practice session, in a bullpen,'' Zito said. ''It was the first time doing it in a game. I think it is important to just stick with it and really get the timing.''
Damon Hollins went 3-for-3 and drove in five runs for Kansas City.
Hollins had a bases-clearing double in the third. Ryan Shealy led off the fifth with his team-leading third home run, a drive off Tyler Walker. Justin Leone hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Joel Peralta.
The Giants committed four errors, raising their total to 21 in 14 games.
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