Sidney Ponson of the Kansas City Royals had another bad outing on Friday, losing his fourth game of the season against the Minnesota Twins. Joe Mauer greeted him with solo homerun in the first and it was downhill from there. Overall he gave up nine hits, seven runs and a walk in 4 1/3 innings, striking out one. He also hit a batter. He threw 76 pitches, 51 for strikes, though not good ones. His ERA now stands at 7.16 and his manager Trey Hillman refused after the game to guarantee that Ponson will remain in the starting rotation.
Other news from Europeans in the Minors:
- Catcher Kai Gronauer first was ejected by the first base umpire in a game last Monday and then was interviewed by Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News. He is currently batting .217 (OBP .288/SLG .326) with seven runs scored and four RBI in 14 games, although he has hit safely in six of the last nine games.
- German pitcher Jennell Hudson, who is currently pitching in extended spring training for the Boston Red Sox, gave an interview to the website At Home Plate. Check it out.