Royals Recap: Gordon Hits A Slam, Pitchers Can’t Find The Plate
By Joel Wagler
When a team has a stretch of games as tough as the one the Kansas City Royals (38-42) are beginning this week, they cannot afford to play like they did against the division leading Cleveland Indians (45-38). The Royals pitchers struggled mightily with their control in this costly 6-5 home loss.
May 15, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Tim Collins (55) throws in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
On the Mound
Luis Mendoza had a frustrating first inning when he allowed 2 runs on walks, 2 hits, and a bases loaded hit batsman. Things hardly improved from there. In his remaining 3 innings, he gave up 2 more runs on 4 hits and 2 more walks. Luke Hochevar pitched two really good innings, although he too walked a batter. In the 7th, in a tie game, Tim Collins entered and just blew up, walking both batters he faced. Aaron Crow followed up with another walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly and a double, and the game was pretty much over. Royals pitchers walked 8 on the night and allowed 9 hits. It is hard to win games with 8 walked batters.
At the Plate
To be honest, the offense did very little most of the night. Alex Gordon did come through with a gigantic hit in the 5th. With the bases loaded, he blasted a grand slam to right to tie the game at four. In the 8th, the Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler were able to string a single and a double back-to-back to score another run but that really was all of the offense on the night.
This and That
After not hitting a home run for 43 games, Gordon has now hit 2 in his last 6 games. Before last night’s game, Gordon’s Slugging Percentage was at a season low .410.
Alcides Escobar‘s On Base Percentage is .278 when he hits second in the line up this season. It is .327 when he hits 9th. Hmmm.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
Gordon has been quiet for quite a while now. It is good seeing some thunder from him again. Grand Slam = POG.
- James Shields – 7
- Alex Gordon – 11
- Wade Davis – 4
- Lorenzo Cain – 5
- Luis Mendoza – 3
- Billy Butler – 6
- Ervin Santana – 6
- Miguel Tejada – 3
- Jeremy Guthrie -3
- Eric Hosmer – 7
- Chris Getz
- Mike Moustakas – 3
- Aaron Crow
- Jarrod Dyson – 2
- David Lough – 5
- Alcides Escobar – 3
- J.C. Gutierrez
- Jeff Francoeur
- Bruce Chen
- Salvador Perez – 4
- Will Smith
The Indians
Carlos Santana had 2 RBI Tuesday without the benefit of a base hit. He walked with the bases loaded in the first and hit a sacrifice fly in the 7th with the bases loaded. He went 0-1 on the night with 2 RBI and 3 walks.Veterans Nick Swisher and Jason Giambi combined for 5hits in the win.
Up Next
Jeremy Guthrie (7-6, 4.11 ERA) will try to out perform Scott Kazmir (4-4, 4.83 ERA) at 7:10.
AL Central Notes
Detroit Tigers (44-38): The Tigers kept pace with the Indians by scoring a run late to breaking a 6-6 tie that had been forged in the second inning. Not surprisingly, Miguel Cabrera had a 3-run homer in the contest. Torii Hunter added 4 hits to the cause.
Minnesota Twins (36-44): Minnesota put left fielder Josh Willingham on the DL Tuesday, messing up fantasy rosters everywhere. Ryan Doumit, Oswaldo Arcia, and Aaron Hicks each tallied 2 hits in the 7-3 loss to the Yankees.
Chicago White Sox (33-47): Behind John Danks, the White Sox were able to get back on track with a 5-2 win against the Orioles. Adam Dunn knocked out his 22 homer of the year, and Conor Gillaspie hit his 6th.