The KC Royals were swept in Oakland on Sunday afternoon, as they lost the finale, 4-3.

The offense collected 11 hits (out-hitting Oakland by two hits), but went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base. However, only two of their hits were for extra bases (doubles by Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon).

The middle of the Royals order (Gordon, Billy Butler, and Hosmer) went 8-for-13 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Gordon collected four hits.

Luis Mendoza was solid in the start and left with the lead. He allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits over six innings. He struck out four. Mendoza allowed a single to lead off the 7th inning, but David Lough misplayed the hit, allowing Derek Norris to go all the way to third base. That fielding blunder proved costly with reliever Bruce Chen on the mound.

Chen allowed two straight fly balls, with the second being deep enough to drive in the tying run.

With the game tied heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, Kelvin Herrera entered in relief. On the second fastball he threw, Yoenis Cespedes deposited it over the left-centerfield wall to give the A’s a 4-3 lead. That was the seventh homerun Herrera has allowed already this season.

The Royals had their chance in the 9th inning against A’s reliever Ryan Cook. With two outs and runners at second and third base, Mike Moustakas worked a long at-bat (seven pitches), but grounded out to end the game.

The Royals continue their West Coast road trip, as they make their first trip to Houston (with them being in the American League). Jeremy Guthrie looks to rebound from his first loss in 18 starts against Dallas Keuchel on Monday night (it will be just his third start of the season).

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”

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.

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.

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the tenth, Alex Gordon took the first pitch from Chicago White Sox reliever Brian Omogrosso into right field for the KC Royals 6-5 walk off victory.

With two outs and a runner on base, Omogrosso intentionally walked Chris Getz, but then walked George Kottaras on five pitches. That brought up Gordon, who sent the home fans home happy. That was his only hit in the game.

It didn’t look so good for the Royals late.

They were leading 3-1 after starter Wade Davis left after six innings. Lefty Tim Collins allowed three straight hits, including a two-run double to Alejandro De Aza to tie the game. That brought in Aaron Crow who wild pitched home the go ahead run and allowed a solo home run to Alex Rios.

The Royals had their chance in the bottom of the seventh, but Billy Butler grounded into an inning ending double play. Butler would redeem himself in the bottom of the ninth.

Salvador Perez and George Kottaras walked to lead off the ninth against White Sox closer Addison Reed. Both saw five pitches. Reed rebounded to get the next two out. That brought up Butler, who doubled to right field to tie the score at 5-5 (that was his only hit).

Davis had a solid start, as he allowed one run on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five. After Collins and Crow, Luke Hochevar pitched two perfect innings to get the ball to closer Greg Holland (who picked up his first win of the season). Hochevar only threw 15 pitches, 12 for strikes.

Cain went 3-for-5 with a stolen base. Mike Moustakas and Miguel Tejada each had two hits in the win.

The two teams complete their series on Monday, as James Shields matches up against White Sox ace Chris Sale. It is a rematch of Opening Day, when Sale won 1-0.

The KC Royals and Cleveland Indians played two on Sunday, one in the afternoon and the other at night. The night game was the makeup of Friday night’s rainout, which made many in Kansas City unhappy (with the time because it cannot be televised due to ESPN and the ticket exchange policy).

The Royals took Game 1 of the doubleheader by a 9-0 score. They then lost the night game, 10-3.

Jeremy Guthrie during 2013 ST against Cleveland.

Jeremy Guthrie outdueled Indians ace Justin Masterson (who had been masterful so far this season). Guthrie pitched 6.2 shutout innings. He allowed six hits and three walks while striking out five. He left the game with two men on base in the seventh and lefty Tim Collins entered to face Michael Brantley. He flied out on the second pitch to end the inning.

Luke Hochevar followed with two scoreless innings of relief. He struck out the side in the 8th inning around an Asdrubal Cabrera double. In the ninth, he struck out two more.

The offense went to work in the second after a two out walk to Mike Moustakas. Back-to-back doubles by Jeff Francoeur and Jarrod Dyson gave the Royals the 2-0 lead. After Masterson struck out the side in the third, Dyson drove in another run (after another Moose walk). Alcides Escobar hit a solo homerun in the 5th inning to give the Royals a 4-0 lead.

They chased Masterson from the game in the seventh. Escobar drove in the first inning on a ground out. After a wild pitch and a walk to Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer singled to drive in a run. That brought in right-hander Matt Albers, who hit the first batter he faced before walking in a run. That was the second time in two games that an Indians reliever has walked in a run. And guess who worked that walk? MOOSE!

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homerun off lefty Scott Barnes in the 8th inning. Barnes was the Indians 26th man for the doubleheader.

In Game 1, Gordon, Francoeur, and Dyson each collected two hits in the win.

» Continue reading “Royals Win One, Lose One to Indians”

Alex Gordon‘s first career grand slam to dead center field in the rain gave the KC Royals the 8-3 win over Detroit in ten innings. The Royals scored five runs in the 10th inning after only scoring three single runs to that point.

It was a battle of the two team’s aces, with James Shields matching up against Justin Verlander. Neither was on top of their game. Verlander left after seven innings due to cracked skin on his thumb (that got alot of talk going on Twitter). Prior to exiting, he scattered eight hits while allowing two runs (one earned). Shields was wild, as he walked three and threw three wild pitches.

In the 4th inning after the Royals had taken a 2-1 lead (on a Salvador Perez sac fly), Shields walked Prince Fielder to lead off the inning and then threw two wild pitches to put him on third base. With one out, Jhonny Peralta tied the game with a sac fly.

In the fifth, Omar Infante singled with one out and was wild pitched to second base. After a walk to Austin Jackson, Torii Hunter singled to give the Tigers the 3-2 lead. Shields was helped out by two double plays.

But what the game really came down to was the bullpens and the Royals shined on Thursday afternoon.

Bruce Rondon, who was supposed to start the season as the Tigers closer but did not, made his Major League debut in the 8th inning. Billy Butler singled to lead off the inning (he went 3-for-3), but was pinch-run for by Jarrod Dyson. He stole second base and moved to third base on Eric Hosmer‘s ground out. Lorenzo Cain delivered the tying run with a sac fly.

Rondon went back out to start the ninth and allowed a lead off single to Perez. He was replaced by Phil Coke and Perez was replaced by Elliot Johnson. After a Chris Getz sac bunt, Coke worked out of trouble.

Lefty Tim Collins replaced Shields, who had settled down late in the game (he retired the Tigers in order over his final three innings). Collins had every count go full, but had a 1-2-3 inning. That sent the game into extra innings.

» Continue reading “Gordon’s First Slam Gives Royals the Win”

The KC Royals salvaged the final game of their three-game home series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 walk-off win.

Alex Gordon was the hero, though Chris Getz also had a hand in the victory.

With the game tied at 2-2, the Blue Jays went to veteran lefty reliever Darren Oliver for the bottom of the ninth. The first three hitters were left-handed, as Oliver got Jarrod Dyson to fly out the center. But then Getz doubled, putting the winning run in scoring position. That brought up Gordon, who singled to right field on the very first pitch he saw from Oliver. Getz raced home for the game winner.

It was another pitcher’s duel between Ervin Santana and Brandon Morrow. Santana allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks over eight innings. Morrow allowed two runs on six hits and one walk over six innings. He only struck out three.

Edwin Encarnacion did all the damage for the Blue Jays against Santana. He drove in a run in the first on a ground out and hit a solo home run in the sixth to give Toronto the lead. However, that lead was short-lived.

The Royals originally tied the game at 1-1 in the third on Alcides Escobar’s sac fly. In the bottom of the sixth, Billy Butler singled with one out and went to second base on Eric Hosmer’s two out single. Butler rumbled home to tie the game at 2-2 on Lorenzo Cain’s single to center. The game stayed tied until Gordon’s heroics in the ninth.

Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect ninth to pick up the win.

The Royals will now enjoy an off day in Atlanta before playing two games against the Braves on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. The Braves have won nine in a row and will be throwing Kris Medlen and Mike Minor. The Royals will counter with Jeremy Guthrie and Wade Davis. The Wednesday game will be televised on MLB Network beginning at noon ET.

Down 1-0 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, the KC Royals scored three runs against the visiting Minnesota Twins. They held on for the 3-1 win in their home opener.

Alcides Escobar

Lorenzo Cain led off the bottom of the eighth with a double off Twins starter Kevin Correia. Chris Getz sacrificed him to third base before Alex Gordon singled him home to tie the game at 1-1. After a coaching visit, Alcides Escobar gave the Royals the lead with an RBI double. After a pitching change and a wild pitch, Billy Butler singled home Esky with the third run.

Aaron Crow entered in the 9th inning and he struck out the first batter he faced. After walking the next, he induced a game-ending double play out of Brian Dozier. It was Crow’s first save of the season.

Ervin Santana was shaky in his first Royals start, as he allowed four hits and one run in the very first inning. He was saved by a Gordon outfield assist or it could have been worse. He then retired nine in a row before hitting Josh Willingham to lead off the sixth. All-in-all, Santana allowed eight hits and one walk while striking out seven over eight innings.

Just over 40,000 were on hand at Kauffman Stadium for the beautiful afternoon victory.

Next up, Jeremy Guthrie gets the start against the Twins and Mike Pelfrey on Tuesday night.

The KC Royals ruined the Philadelphia Phillies home opener with a 13-4 victory.

It didn’t start out so well for the Royals.

Wade Davis struggled in his first start wearing the Kansas City uniform, as he allowed four runs on nine hits over just four innings. He also allowed two solo homeruns in the 2nd inning. He did however have a quick 1-2-3 fourth inning.

Then the Royals offense went to work.

In the 5th inning against Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick, the Royals put together three straight one out singles to load the bases with Alcides Escobar coming to the plate. Kendrick induced a ground out, with the out coming at the plate. Eric Hosmer followed with a two-run single to cut the Phillies lead to 4-2.

With two outs and one on base in the 6th inning, Chris Getz doubled and the Phillies elected to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Billy Butler to load the bases. That brought up lefty Alex Gordon and the Phillies went to lefty reliever Jeremy Horst. Gordon cleared the bases with a triple into the right-center field gap to give the Royals the lead.

They didn’t stop there. The Royals ended up scoring 13 straight runs over the game’s final five innings to send Phillies fans home early. Getz gave the Royals another bases clearing triple in the 7th inning. He shockingly fell a homerun short of the cycle (3-for-5).

Meanwhile, the Royals bullpen was lights out and it started with Bruce Chen. In his first relief appearance of the season, Chen struck out two in his one inning of work. JC Gutierrez followed with a perfect inning of relief. Lefty Tim Collins walked one and struck out three in his two innings of work. Luke Hochevar finished off the Phillies with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Let’s talk some more about the Royals offense. They collected 19 hits, six of which went for extra bases. The top three in the order (Gordon, Escobar, and Hosmer) went 9-for-16 with eight RBIs and six runs scored. They also only struck out once. Mike Moustakas went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

*Hopefully, the Royals have some offense left for tomorrow because I’ll be at the game. Luis Mendoza makes his first start of the season against John Lannan of the Phillies, who will be making his debut.

**For more from a Phillies standpoint, check out View from Section 116.