The Sports Xchange
Hochevar experiences another first-inning blowup
Luke Hochevar gave Kansas City Royals fans another reason to lament the 2006 draft.
The right-hander allowed five runs in the first inning Tuesday to put the Royals in an early hole en route to a 9-3 loss to the Tigers.
Hochevar was the first overall pick in 2006. That was the same draft that produced Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who won the National League Cy Young Award last year, and Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum, who has two Cy Young trophies on his mantel. Where would the Royals be if they had selected one of them instead of Hochevar, who owns a 32-45 career record?
Meanwhile, Hochevar continues to struggle and at age 28 remains an enigma. He is 2-2 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts this season. He allowed nine runs on 12 hits and three walks in four innings in the loss at Detroit. The first seven Tigers reached base off Hochevar — six hits and a throwing error by first baseman Eric Hosmer.
This brought back memories of the Friday the 13th home opener, when Hochevar allowed seven runs in the first inning in a loss to the Indians.
Big innings have plagued Hochevar throughout his career, and Tuesday was no different.
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