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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Royals manager Trey Hillman shook up his batting order again Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles.
Hillman dropped Mark Grudzielanek, who had batted only in the second slot, to fifth and Mark Teahen took over the second spot. Miguel Olivo, who was tied for the club lead with four home runs in limited action, batted cleanup for the first time this year. It was only the second time in his career he has batted fourth.
Alberto Callaspo, who was hitting .318 in 17 games, replaced Tony Pena Jr., who has a .167 average, at shortstop.
The Royals entered the game ranked last in the American League with 120 runs and a .355 slugging percentage, and next-to-last with a .307 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and 407 total bases. The Royals scored four or fewer runs in 23 of their first 34 games, and two or less in 13 games.
"We're lacking a consistency of run production," Hillman said. "I've changed a lot of slots. I'm just going to change it up and see where it sits. We've got to do something. I'm going to keep massaging it and keep changing it until hopefully we can get some consistency."
The Royals have received minimal production from the No. 3 and cleanup slots. In the first 34 games, the Royals No. 3 hitters were batting .218 with four home runs and 12 RBIs, with 36 strikeouts and 16 walks. The cleanup hitters were hitting a combined .187 with three home runs and 19 RBIs.
Jose Guillen, who signed a $36 million, three-year contract with the Royals during the offseason to beef up the middle of the lineup, was hitting .159 in the cleanup slot and has been dropped to sixth.
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