Kansas City Royals: A Look Back At An Exciting 2013

Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4)Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

AUGUST

Kansas City won its first game of the month, stretching their winning streak to nine games. The good news was the team didn’t fall apart after that. They went on, and won 8 of the next 10 ball games, and were sitting at 62-54 on August 12th. They had just rattled off 17 wins in 20 games.

There was only one problem though. Well, two problems actually. Both Detroit and Cleveland also had been winning.

After dropping the first two games after the break to the Royals, Detroit won their next four, lost one, then were victorious in 12 straight. While the Royals had been winning they were not gaining any ground. The Tigers were 69-48.

Let’s not forget the Indians. After sweeping the Royals going into the All-Star break, the Indians dropped 4 of the first five after the break, then they went on a streak of their own, winning 10 of the next 11. Unfortunately for the Tribe, they lost their next 6 after that, including 4 in a row to the Tigers. On August 12, Cleveland was 63-56, just a half game ahead of the Royals for second place.

They Royals were unable to maintain their blistering pace. They went on a stretch where they lost 10 of 12 , including 5 losses to horrid teams like the White Sox and the Miami Marlins, plus three more to Detroit. The only two wins Kansas City had in that stretch was a Friday double header sweep of the Tigers but they  could not follow it up.

Kansas City righted the ship late in August by winning the next five but August, oa month in which the Royals did not get a day off, turned out to be their second worst month of the season as they went 16-15.