Maybe it was wishful thinking anyway.
The dream scenario for the Royals where starter Jason Hammel could potentially resurrect his season — and do so just in time to become a trade asset for a talent-needy club — could have been imagined six weeks ago.
It seems much less likely after his dud outing Friday.
Hammel was blasted for eight earned runs in just two innings, posting the shortest start of his Royals career in a 10-5 home loss to the Boston Red Sox. Kansas City has now lost seven in a row and also 25 of its last 29.