Royals Recap: Hosmer Homers; 1 Inninng Dooms Santana

Sometimes, you just get beat. That is what happened to the Kansas City Royals (35-39) on Tuesday when the the Atlanta Braves (45-33) played in Kauffman Stadium for the first time ever. The Braves downed the Royals 4-3.

June 25, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals first basemen Eric Hosmer (35) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

Except for 4 batters in the 5th inning, Ervin Santana was magnificent. Outside of those four consecutive batters in the 5th, who combined to account for 3 runs, Santana only gave up 2 other hits. He struck out 7 in his 6 innings. Tim Collins relieved Santana in the 7th, hung a breaking ball to Jason Heyward, and that was the ball game.

At the Plate

Every Royal batter tallied one, and only one, hit except for Elliot Johnson, who went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts. Eric Hosmer provided the big hit, a blast in the 5th, pulling the ball over the right center field fence with a runner on. That capped the Kansas City offensive efforts for the night.

This and That

The Braves hitters have struck out 215 more times than their Royal counterparts (694-479). The Royals have struck out the least of any ball club in the majors.

The Braves have well more than double the home runs the Royals have (97-41). The Royals have the fewest home runs of any ball club in the majors.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

If it weren’t for his 4-batter collapse, Santana probably would have gotten this nod. As it is, Hosmer’s big fly is a good sign for him and the Royals, so he earned the POG.

• James Shields – 7
• Alex Gordon – 9
  
• Wade Davis – 4
• Lorenzo Cain – 5
• Luis Mendoza – 3
• Billy Butler – 6
• Ervin Santana – 6
• Miguel Tejada – 3
  
• Jeremy Guthrie -3
• Eric Hosmer – 6
  
• Chris Getz
• Mike Moustakas – 3
  
• Aaron Crow
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
  
• David Lough – 4
• Alcides Escobar – 3
• J.C. Gutierrez
• Jeff Francoeur
• Bruce Chen
• Salvador Perez – 3

The Braves

Kris Medlen, a reliever through the minors, continues to deliver as a starter in the majors. He is only 5-7 on the year but his ERA stands at 3.02 and his WHIP at 1.26. Jason Heyward is kind of the Braves’ Mike Moustakas. With his 2-4 night, Heyward is only hitting .216 on the season. Including his home run Tuesday, he has only totaled 6 on the year, with 16 RBI.

Up Next

The Royals attempt to gain a season series split with one of the National League’s top teams. The Royals went 1-1 in Atlanta in April. The task falls to Luis Mendoza (2-4, 4.30 ERA) to beat Mike Minor (8-3, 2.89 ERA) at 7:10.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (42-33): Rick Porcello and the Tigers got beat up by the Angels, 14-8. Porcello only lasted 4.1 innings, getting pounded for 7 runs on 10 hits and 2 walks. Miguel Cabrera hit his 21st home run of 2013.

Cleveland Indians (): Justin Masterson wasn’t his usual solid self as got tuned up by the Orioles 6-3. Masterson gave up all 6 runs in 6.1 innings. Jason Kipnis remains hot, going 2-2 with a home run, 1 run scored, 2 RBI, and he walked twice.

Minnesota Twins (34-39): The Twins couldn’t muster much offense against the Marlins rookie starter, Jose Fernandez, in a 4-2 loss in Miami. Kevin Correia pitched well in a losing effort, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits in 6 frames.

Chicago White Sox (32-42): Chicago was the only team in the Central to win Tuesday, when Alex Ramirez had a walk-off single against the Mets’40-year old LaTroy Hawkins in the 9th. The Sox beat the Mets 5-4. Tyler Flowers hit is 7th homer on the year.