All good things must come to an end.

Jeremy Guthrie during 2013 ST against Cleveland.

That is exactly what happened on Tuesday night in LA. Jeremy Guthrie, who had not lost in 18 straight starts, struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark, as the Angels beat the visiting KC Royals, 6-4.

He allowed four solo homeruns and 11 hits total over seven innings. Guthrie also walked three and did not strike out a batter, while allowing five runs. The other run he allowed came via a sac fly.

It didn’t help that the Royals only collected six hits, two from Billy Butler. He seems to have found his stroke, as he hit his fifth homerun of the season with two outs in the 6th inning. That homerun cut the Royals deficit to 3-2. Butler also drove in the other run in the fourth with a double.

*I’m sure Royals fans were screaming at their TVs or computers in the 9th inning with pinch-runner Elliot Johnson on second base and two outs. I know they were down four runs, but Jeff Francoeur swung at the first pitch from new pitcher Ernesto Frieri to end the game. I can only imagine what is being said because he hit a measly pop up to the second baseman.

The KC Royals played a full week of games for the first time during the 2013 season (with zero days off). It unfortunately was not a good week. They went 1-6 last week, but started the new week with a win in LA last night. The Royals dropped to third place in the American League Central behind both Detroit and suddenly hot Cleveland, and just one game ahead of Minnesota.

Omaha dropped to second place in the Pacific Coast League’s American Northern Division at 19-17. The Storm Chasers went 3-4 last week. They finish up their road series tonight in Colorado Springs, before returning home to enjoy tomorrow off and start an eight-game homestand.

NW Arkansas went 3-3 last week and continue to be the worst team in the Texas League at 13-22. The Naturals continue their road series tonight against the Arkansas Travelers.

Wilmington continues to be a streaky team, though they are still in last place in the Northern Division of the Carolina League (17-20). Last week, the Blue Rocks went 4-2. They continue their road trip tonight, as they open a three-game set in Potomac.

Lexington is 18-19, four games back in the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division. The Legends went 3-3 last week. They continue their home series tonight against Kannapolis.

Now to the awards…The Royals minor leaguers took home three player/pitcher of the week awards. I only gave one of them one of my weekly awards.

Hitter of the Week

Majors: Alex Gordon seems to be the only Royal who can consistently hit in their lineup, no matter where Ned Yost places him in the lineup. He has now moved to the third spot, in front of Billy Butler, and has not missed a beat. Over the last seven games, he went 11-for-28 (.393) with two doubles and three homeruns. Gordon scored six runs and drove in eight.

Minors: Max Ramirez, Omaha. He was also named the PCL’s Player of the Week. In five games, he went 11-for-20 (.550) with two doubles and two homeruns. He scored seven runs and drove in six. He is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak.

Honorable Mention: His teammate Anthony Seratelli. In six games, he went 10-for-25 (.400) with two doubles and a homerun. He scored six runs and drove in four.

» Continue reading “Royals Weekly Awards”

Getting away from Kauffman Stadium did the KC Royals some good, as they blew out the LA Angels on Monday night, 11-4. It was the first game of the series and they scored in every inning but three.

Billy Butler had one of his best offensive games in awhile, and got it all started in the first inning. He drove in Alex Gordon with a two out double. He drove in two more with a single with two outs in the third. In the 5th inning, Butler singled and scored on Lorenzo Cain‘s single (he also had a very good offensive night). Butler drove in two more with a double in the 6th inning and scored on a Cain two out single. He even singled in the 8th inning, the Royals only base runner over the final two inning (they struck out four times).

Butler went 5-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBIs. Maybe he has FINALLY found his stroke?

Cain was also good, as he went 3-for-5 with the two RBIs. Alcides Escobar and Salvador Perez also picked up three hits each. Gordon and Jarrod Dyson chipped in two hits each.

Luis Mendoza had one of his best starts as a Royal and picked up his first win of the season. He allowed three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and induced ten ground outs. Luke Hochevar picked up the save, as he gave up one run over three innings.

On the negative side, the Royals hitters struck out 13 times.

The two teams continue the series on Tuesday night, as Jeremy Guthrie matches up against Jason Vargas.

The KC Royals were swept at home by the NY Yankees. They lost the Sunday finale, 4-2.

Robinson Cano and Vernon Wells hit back-to-back home runs in the Yankees three run 3rd inning. They never looked back, as starter Hiroki Kuroda recorded two outs in the 8th inning.

Meanwhile, Ervin Santana was not awful, but he was not stellar either. He allowed four runs on eight hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out four. Surprisingly, lefty Tim Collins entered in the seventh and did not allow an inherited runner or any runs of his own over 1.2 innings. Greg Holland followed with a perfect inning of relief.

The Royals defense was once again shaky. Mike Moustakas committed his seventh error of the season at third base. Catcher Salvador Perez committed his fourth error when Wells stole second base.

On offense, the Royals collected seven hits, including three doubles. Two hits came from Alex Gordon. They went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and grounded into a double play. On the positive side, they struck out just once.

The Royals head to LA to play the Angels on Monday night. Luis Mendoza will start for the Royals against Joe Blanton.

In another well pitched game, the KC Royals lost to the NY Yankees, 3-2.

James Shields took the loss, as he allowed a two-run home run to Vernon Wells in the 5th inning to give the Yankees the lead for good.

The Royals had just given Shields the lead when Billy Butler homered off Yankees starter Andy Pettitte in the bottom of the fourth. He only allowed one base runner after that and it was erased on a double play ground out.

Shields threw a lot of pitches (116), but not a ton of strikes (68). He walked two and struck out five.

In the third, Mike Moustakas’ sixth error of the season allowed the Yankees first run of the game to score.

Meanwhile, the Royals offense was shut down by the Yankee veteran, and then the bullpen duo of David Robertson and Mariano Rivera (who recorded his 14th save). The Royals only collected six hits, two coming from Salvador Perez. Their first run of the game scored on Lorenzo Cain’s ground out in the third (the same inning the Yankees scored).

The two teams finish the series on Sunday, with Ervin Santana getting the start for the Royals against Hiroki Kuroda.

The KC Royals lost their series opener to the visiting NY Yankees by an 11-6 final.

Wade Davis had another subpar outing, as he allowed seven runs in five-plus innings. He allowed two 2-run homeruns in the second, with one being hit by Lyle Overbay (his sixth of the season). Overbay also drove in two runs later on doubles and another in the ninth on a single.

Davis allowed to batters to reach in the sixth and was relieved by lefty Bruce Chen (who had pitched well this season out of the bullpen). Unfortunately, Friday night was not more of the same.

Chen allowed two singles, a double, and a triple in the 6th inning, to go along with two more runs charged to Davis and three runs charged to him before he finally recorded the third out.

Meanwhile, the Royals offense was virtually nonexistent. They struck out consistently: 11 times, by everyone at least once besides Eric Hosmer. They did hit two homeruns, a solo shot by Mike Moustakas and a three-run shot by Jarrod Dyson (his first of the season).

The two teams continue their series on Saturday, with a great pitching matchup: Andy Pettitte versus James Shields.

Jeremy Guthrie just keeps on winning.

Jeremy Guthrie during 2013 ST against Cleveland.

A rain delay to start the game could not keep Guthrie from improving to 5-0 on the season. The KC Royals won their finale in Baltimore, 6-2.

Manager Ned Yost shook up the lineup, and it seemed to work (at least for one night).

Down 1-0, the Royals‘ power came to life against O’s starter Freddy Garcia. With one out, Alex Gordon hit a two-run homerun (his third of the series). Two batters later, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homerun. He FINALLY hit a homerun this season, the last big league first baseman to hit one.

The Royals scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings, as Mike Moustakas hit a solo homerun to lead off the 7th inning.

Back to Guthrie…

He allowed both runs, though only one was earned due to Alcides Escobar‘s sixth error of the season. Guthrie allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out three. He did allow a solo homerun to Chris Davis, but then again, who isn’t? It was his tenth of the season.

After Guthrie left the game, the Royals bullpen was close to spotless. Aaron Crow pitched a perfect seventh, as he needed just 11 pitches (eight were strikes). Kelvin Herrera worked around a leadoff double in the eighth, as he threw all 11 pitches for strikes (and struck out both Adam Jones and Davis on three pitches). Luke Hochevar pitched a perfect ninth to finish off the O’s.

The Royals now return to Kauffman Stadium to play the NY Yankees this weekend. Don’t forget, Friday night’s game will be televised on MLB Network. Wade Davis will start the opener against the Yankees Phil Hughes.

There was once again rain in Baltimore, but the wet playing surface was not the blame for the KC Royals sloppy play in the 5th inning on Wednesday night. They lost to the O’s, 5-3.

Alex Gordon had just cut the O’s lead to 2-1 with a solo homerun in the top of the fifth (his second homerun in as many games) when the wheels fell off in the bottom of the inning.

Mike Moustakas

Chris Dickerson doubled to lead off the inning. He went all the way to third base on a fielding error by Alcides Escobar on Nate McLouth‘s ground ball. After McLouth stole second base, Manny Machado singled to score a run. Then things really got sloppy.

Machado stole second base and George Kottaras (who rarely plays) made a poor throw. So McLouth took off for home. Escobar‘s throw home was wide right (or left depending on the angle you are looking at it) and McLouth scored. Then starter Luis Mendoza got in on the act and threw a wild pitch to allow the final run to score. Granted, Kottaras should have blocked the ball and kept it in front of home plate.

The Royals did get two more runs on a rare Mike Moustakas two-run homerun, but it came with two outs. Then Elliot Johnson singled but tried to stretch it into a double. Yeah, well, he got thrown out to end the inning.

The Royals had more chances to score against the O’s bullpen. Darren O’Day got into a two out, two on jam in the eighth, but Brian Matusz came in and got Moose out on one pitch, a foul pop up to the catcher.

A double play ended any kind of a threat in the ninth inning against O’s closer Jim Johnson. Elliot singled to lead off the inning, but Kottaras grounded into a double play. Then Jarrod Dyson struck out on four pitches to end the game.

Meanwhile, Mendoza did not pitch that bad. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out two. Bruce Chen only threw 24 pitches over two perfect innings of relief.

» Continue reading “Sloppy Play Leads to Royals Loss”

The weather forecast called for rain all day and all night in Baltimore, yet the KC Royals only faced an hour long rain delay in the 7th inning. Unfortunately, they still lost, 4-3.

The way the game started for the Royals and Ervin Santana, you would be surprised that he lasted until the rain delay. I know I was. But he settled down and really pitched well. After allowing three runs on four hits in the first, he did not allow another base runner until Nate McLouth singled with two outs in the fifth. Santana only walked one over six innings while striking out four.

Meanwhile, the Royals offense continues to be the singles brigade. They collected nine of them and actually out-hit the O’s.

In the 3rd inning against O’s starter Wei-Yin Chen, the Royals strung together three singles to score their first run. Then the two teams’ offenses were kept off the scoreboard until the rains came.

Miguel Tejada, who started at third base singled with one out against Chen. With Elliot Johnson at the plate (he started at second base), the downpour came. The tarp was put on the field and play was halted until 9:45pm ET.

Brian Matusz was the new pitcher for the O’s when play resumed. After getting Johnson to fly out, Alex Gordon hit a no doubter over the right field scoreboard to tie the game at 3-3. It was the first and only extra base hit for the Royals. It was also their last base runner.

The Royals also went to their bullpen, first with lefty Tim Collins. He once again struggled with his command, as he walked one in his first inning of relief, but escaped. For some reason, Ned Yost sent Collins back out for another inning. He walked the first batter he faced before striking out Chris Davis. He then got the hook and in came Luke Hochevar. His pick off throw to first base hit Adam Jones, allowing him to take second base. Matt Wieters then dropped in a double to break the tie. From my seat, it looked foul. That was the third RBI of the night for Wieters.

The Royals then went down quietly to O’s closer Jim Johnson. Jeff Francoeur flied out to center. Salvador Perez struck out. Pinch-hitter Mike Moustakas got a 2-0 count and then sent a dinky fly ball to left field to end the game.

The Royals left five men on base and hit into three double plays.

Luis Mendoza will get the ball in the middle game of the series against Chris Tillman. I hope more people show up for tomorrow’s game. There were less than 10,000 actually in attendance and way less after the delay.

*Every time Gordon got on base, Alcides Escobar hit into a double play: once in the first and once in the fifth to end the inning (with a runner on third base).

**Outside of the rain, it was a nice two and a half hour game. I just wish the rain hadn’t come because I would have made it home an hour earlier.

***The Royals also flashed some glove work from their infield subs. Tejada made a great play in the third, flipping over and throwing Jones out from his knees. Johnson’s play came in the bottom of the eighth when he dove deep into the hole on Ryan Flaherty‘s sure base hit. He threw him out by a few steps.

Mother Nature was not kind to the big league KC Royals or their farm system last week. There were a total of six games postponed.

The Royals had two more games postponed last week, with them only playing five (4-1). Their four-game winning steak came to an end with a heartbreaking loss in Monday’s makeup game against Chicago. The lack of games pushed them into second place behind Detroit. The Royals head to Baltimore for three games beginning tonight (hopefully the rain holds off because I will be there).

Omaha also had two games postponed last week. The Storm Chasers went 2-3, but are still in first place in the Pacific Coast League’s American Northern Division at 16-12. They finished up their series at home yesterday afternoon (an extra inning loss) and now are out on the road for eight games in Reno and Colorado Springs.

NW Arkansas had back-to-back games postponed last week and went 2-3. The Naturals are still the worst team in the Texas League at 10-18. They finish up their series at home today against Arkansas before heading out on the road for nine games.

Wilmington went 4-3 last week and enjoyed a day off on Monday. The Blue Rocks are just 13-17 and in last place in the Carolina League’s Northern Division. They welcome Potomac to town for three games beginning tonight and could move out of last place with a sweep.

Lexington has now won six in a row (including last night’s win over Lakewood) and went 5-1 last week. The Legends are moving up in the South Atlantic League Southern Division standings at 14-16. They finish up their series in Lakewood today before heading home for seven games.

Now that you are up-to-date on the teams, let’s hand out some awards.

» Continue reading “Royals Weekly Awards”