Dye Cast as Hero in Royals’ Victory

The Kansas City Royals finished July with an 11-16 record, but they can’t blame that on Jermaine Dye.

Dye drove in five runs Saturday night, including a two-run double to key a five-run sixth, as the Royals rallied to beat the Texas Rangers, 12-8.

Dye tied the team record for RBIs in a month with 32 in July, equaling the mark set by John Mayberry in July 1975.

“He’s grown up right before my eyes,” said Royal Manager Tony Muser. “He’s had physical problems in the past, but now he’s healthy. He’s doing what all the scouts said he could do when we got him.”

Dye has struggled to remain injury-free in his two seasons in Kansas City since he was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in March 1997. Last season Dye was limited to 60 games because of assorted injures and hit .234 with five homers and 23 RBIs.

This season, Dye has 20 homers and 83 RBIs and is batting .311.

During spring training, the Royals made Dye their everyday right fielder when they traded Jeff Conine to the Baltimore Orioles. Dye has made the most of the opportunity.

“The puzzling part was everybody was aware of his talent,” Muser said. “When the Conine deal was made, he knew he was going to get his chance to play every day. To his credit, he’s taken the bull by the horns.”

On a night when the Royals traded staff ace Kevin Appier to the Oakland Athletics, rookie Dan Reichert (1-0) got his first major league victory.