Royals Recap: Perez Homers But Offense Sleeps Through 3-1 Loss To Twins
By Joel Wagler
The offense of the Kansas City Royals (36-40) just cannot get on track. It slumbered through the 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins (35-40) on Thursday night.
Jun 22, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) drives in a run with a single in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
On the Mound
Jeremy Guthrie bounced back from a terrible performance his last time out against the White Sox. On Thursday, he went 6.1 innings, giving up 3 runs (1 unearned) on 6 hits and 2 walks. He fanned 4 while taking the loss. Will Smith relieved Guthrie with 2 on, 1 out, in the 7. He pitched 1.2 perfect innings but he did allow a sacrifice fly that scored the last run of the game.
At the Plate
The offense, as usual, could not mount any kind of attack. They scattered 7 hits around without bunching enough together to score runs. Salvador Perez had two hits, including a home run that tallied the Royals’ only run. He also lined the ball hard down the third base line in the 9th but it was caught by third baseman Trevor Plouffe. Alcides Escobar pitched in with 2 hits. Eric Hosmer and Elliot Johnson both continued harsh slumps.
This and That
The Royals now have 46 games in which they have scored 3 or fewer runs. Not surprisingly, they are 11-35 in those games. Hello, Dayton, are you paying attention.
In AA Nothwest Arkansas last night, Royals farmhand Brooks Pounder pitched a complete game no-hitter for the Naturals, winning 11-0. Pounder was acquired from the Pirates for Yamaico Navarro.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
There was really only one candidate for the POG on Thursday, a situation that has been occurring way too often of late. Salvador Perez wins in an 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 – 4
The Twins
Sam Deduno again made the Royals hitters look amateurish with their lack of big league ability at the plate. In two starts this season against Kansas City, Deduno has gone 13 frames, allowed just 1 run on 9 hits. He has struck out 8 while walking 3. He is, obviously, 2-0 against the Royals. Are you kidding me?
Up Next
This critical series continues tonight when James Shields (2-6, 2.92 ERA) faces P.J. Walters (2-3, 4.88 ERA) at 7:10 at Target Field. Shields has not won a decision since April 30th.
AL Central Notes
Detroit Tigers (42-35): Doug Fister only allowed 1 run in 7 innings but reliever Phil Coke gave up 2 in the 10th inning, causing the Tigers to fall to the Angels 3-1. Jhonny Peralta and former Royal Brayan Pena had two hits each.
Cleveland Indians (40-38): The Indians fell 7-3 to the Orioles despite 3 hits, including a home run, from Lonnie Chisenhall. Corey Kluber was bashed around for 7 runs (1 unearned) on 11 hits in less than 5 innings.
Chicago White Sox (32-43): The Sox were off and they start a 3-game series at home against the Indians today.