Royals match their '91 club with .500 mark

CLEVELAND -- When the Royals pulled to .500 on Monday night, it was the first time since 1991 that they'd pulled that off after being nine games under the break-even point.

On July 15, 1991, the Royals were 38-47 before going on a 12-3 run and pulling to 50-50 on Aug. 1. During that hot streak, pitcher Luis Aquino picked up four victories -- two as a reliever, then two as a starter -- and Jeff Montgomery had six saves.

The '91 team finished two games over .500 at 82-80 but finished sixth out of seven teams in the American League West. All seven West teams were at .500 or above. But three AL East teams were way below .500, with Cleveland at the bottom with a 57-105 record.

Those were the days of the "balanced" schedule. The Royals played each of the other 13 teams in the league 12 or 13 times.