Royals Recap: 9th Inning Rally Falls Short In 6-3 Loss To Athletics

Sometimes, you just have to tip your hat to the other guys. Friday nights tilt between the Kansas City Royals (40-43) and the Oakland Athletics (51-36) was one such games. Despite a wild come back attempt in the 9th inning, the Royals fell 6-3.

Jun 29, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) his a single in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

Wade Davis, for the most part, didn’t pitch that poorly. He made just a few mistakes, seemingly all to Josh Reddick, but the Athletics took advantage. Davis pitched 7 innings, allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and just 1 walk. He fanned 8. After a perfect inning from Tim Collins, J.C. Gutierrez surrendered 3 hits in the 9th. Three runs scored but two were unearned because Lorenzo Cain miss played a Josh Reddick fly ball. The game may have been different without the huge cushion Cain’s gaff provided.

At the Plate

Tommy Milone baffled the Royals all night. His command appeared perfect and the Royals had no solution for his change-up. Only Eric Hosmer and David Lough had hits in the first 8.1 innings. In the 9th, trailing 6-0 with one out, David Lough hit a hustle double. Alcides Escobar followed with another double down the right field line, scoring Lough. A single by Hosmer, another by Billy Butler, and Milone was gone. After only tallying 2 hits all night against Milone, the Royals had just rattled off 4 in a row!

Grant Balfour entered the game and promptly gave up a single to Salvador Perez, scoring Hosmer and making the game 6-3. With the large crowd cheering them on, neither Lorenzo Cain or Mike Moustakas could get the ball out of the infield, the game was over.

This and That

Sine May of last season, Balfour has converted 40 straight save opportunities.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

This was a close one between Lough and Hosmer. If Lough had made a couple of better throws, he may have gotten the nod. Instead, Hosmer gets his 9th POG.

The Athletics

Milone has dominated the Royals in 4 games in his career. He is 3-1, with a 1.84 ERA and a .989 WHIP. He had given up at least 1 home run in each of his last 8 starts, including 3 to to the Cardinals in his last outing. He kept the Royals in the park on Friday.

Josh Reddick, who has been in a season long slump, batting just .217, had a huge night. He went 2-3 with a double, triple, 3 runs scored, and 2 RBI.

Up Next

Ervin Santana (5-5, 2.84) will try to secure an All-Star appointment with a strong start against Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.11 ERA). Game time is at 1:10.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (47-38): The Tigers, with Rick Porcello on the hill, blanked the Indians 7-0. Porcello went 7 and his bullpen kept the shutout intact. Andy Dirks was 2-4 with 3 runs in the win. The Tigers picked up a game on the field as they were the only Central team to win Friday.

Cleveland Indians (45-41): Cleveland dropped their 3rd in a row with the loss. Justin Masterson got knocked around and only Carlos Santana produced more than 1 hit in the whitewashing,

Minnesota Twins (36-47): The Twins also took a goose egg as Mark Buehrle and the Blue Jays beat them 4-0. Brian Dozier and Oswaldo Arcia 2 hits each but the rest of the team combined for just 3 more. Kevin Correia took the loss.

Chicago White Sox (34-49): Dylan Axelrod got pounded for 5 runs on 9 hits in the 1.2 innings. Conor Gillaspie and Gordon Beckham each knocked out 2 hits in the 8-3 loss to the Rays.

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