Top 5: lowlights of the Royals' 19-game losing streak

1 The 11-spot. With the streak about to end at 10, manager Buddy Bell does the logical thing by bringing in closer Mike MacDougal to preserve a 7-2 lead in the ninth inning. The Indians, of course, score 11 runs-eight unearned-aided by three Royals errors, including two dropped pop flies.

2 Moneyball mashing. Fans of low-revenue teams like to complain about baseball's money gap, but it hasn't hurt the A's, who are in the same boat as K.C. After watching their team get outscored, 32-5, in three games, Royals fans wonder whether the A's could lend them a paddle--or at least a good young starter.

3 Throw to the mitt. With the Royals already down, 10-1, to the Mariners in what would become loss No. 18, MacDougal fields a comebacker with the bases loaded--and throws the ball over catcher Paul Phillips' head, allowing another run to score.

4 There he goes! The night before MacDougal's heave, lefthander Jeremy Affeldt suffers brain lock against the M's. With two outs in the eighth and the game tied, 3-3, Affeldt allows a single to Jeremy Reed and walks Mike Morse. Affeldt then pays no attention to Reed, who steals third. Reed later scores on an infield single.

5 Battered up. Maybe they should change the name of the team to the Paupers. The only regal thing about the Royals during the streak was their opponents' hitting. Kansas City was outscored, 148-64, and outhomered, 27-12.--Shawn Reid

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