Royals Recap: Gordon Comes Up Big In 4-3 Win Over Braves

Finally, it looks like Alex Gordonmay just be coming out of his recent hitting funk. He was instrumental for the Kansas City Royals (36-39) in their 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves (45-34). The Royals earned a 2-2 season series split with the Braves.

Jun 26, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) connects for a one run single in the tenth inning to win the game against the Atlanta Braves at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

Luis Mendoza was terrific through 6 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 walk. He was left in too long, and in the 7th, with 1 out, the Braves got 2 hits. Bruce Chen was brought in to face lefties and allowed a single and a walk without recording an out. Luke Hochevar got the call, with the bases loaded. He unsurprisingly and promptly served up a 2 run single. Luckily, Lorenzo Cain was able to throw a base runner out at third to end the carnage.

At the Plate

Alex Gordon led off the game with his first home run in over a month. He then became the hero when he singled in David Lough in the 10th to win the game in walk-off fashion. Gordon and Salvador Perez each had 3 hits on the night, including 2 doubles for Sal. Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas each added two hits. Eric Hosmer was 0-4 and is 1-13 since returning to the number three spot in the batting order. His one hit was a home run.

This and That

The Royals are now 6-1 in extra inning games and are 25-5 when they score more than 3 runs.

Ned Yost continues to manage his pitching staff poorly. He doesn’t seem to have a good feel when to remove starters and when to leave them in. His bullpen decisions are often terrible. He brought Bruce Chen to face a lefty but Chen doesn’t do particularly well in against fellow lefties. His career Batting Average Against is .281 against lefties and .258 against right handed batters. The difference is much closer this season (.244 v. LHB, .250 v. RHB) but in a much, much smaller sample size.

Even sillier was Yost’s inserting Hochevar into the game with the bases loaded and 2 outs. Hochevar’s career BAA is .389 in that situation. How come Ned Yost doesn’t know that?

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Alex Gordon – no doubt, hands down, easy choice.

• James Shields – 7
• Alex Gordon – 10
  
• 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

The Braves struck out 10 times Wednesday night, and only walked 4 times. Their pitching staff did not walk a single batter. Only Chris Johnson had more than 1 hit; he had 2.

Up Next

Jeremy Guthrie (7-5, 4.20 ERA) will open an important 4-game series on the road against the Minnesota Twins. Samuel Deduno (3-2, 3.72 ERA) gets the call for the Twins.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (42-34): Despite first inning home runs by Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers dropped a 7-4 decision to the Angels. Jose Alvarez took the loss by allowing 4 runs on 7 hits over 5.2 innings.

Cleveland Indians (40-37): Cleveland scored 2 in the 9th to beat the Orioles 4-3. Jason Kipnis homered again, his 11th. Scott Kazmir did not allow an earned run over 7 innings of 1-hit ball.

Minnesota Twins (34-40): The Twins couldn’t muster much offense in their 5-3 loss to the Marlins outside of five combined hits from Joe Mauer and Oswaldo Arcia. The rest of team only had 3 hits.

Chicago White Sox (32-43): The Sox only knocked out 4 hits against the Mets’ Shaun Marcum in their 3-0 loss Wednesday. Two were by Alex Ramirez.