<TABLE><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE>CLEVELAND | Royals manager Trey Hillman was in no mood to handle second-guesses Wednesday night on his decision to pull starter Gil Meche after his bullpen imploded in an 8-5 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
“Easy to second-guess?” Hillman said. “Well, he’s over 100 pitches. It’s late in the season. He’s not going to have any extra rest. We’re already falling apart with our rotation.
“I don’t understand why there would be second-guessing. It’s a no-brainer for me. But if people want to second-guess that decision, that’s fine.”
Let’s back up.
Meche was at 104 pitches and had retired 17 straight hitters when told he was done. The Royals led 5-3 at the time, and Meche had allowed just one earned run.
“I felt good,” Meche said. “I felt fine.”