The Kansas City Royals (78-71) have the best bullpen in Major League Baseball. They also have a manager who has no clue how to use it. Ned Yost stubbornly stuck with a starter who had given up 12 hits in the first 7 innings. In the end, it cost the Royals as they dropped a 3-2 decision to the Detroit Tigers (86-63).
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
On the Mound
Don’t blame Jeremy Guthrie. He gamely worked through 7 innings on a day when he was fooling few Tiger hitters. Somehow, the game was tied at 2-2 when Ned Yost decided he didn’t need to use the best bullpen in baseball. Alex Avila ends hitting his second home of the day off Guthrie and the Royals lose. At least the bullpen is fully rested…
At the Plate
Max Scherzer just dominated Royals hitters all day. The Royals scraped out 5 hits on the day while striking out 12 times.
The Royals had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in the 7th. Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson displayed poor, poor situational hitting skills, and stranded both runners.
This and That
The loss keeps the Royals to 3.5 back with 13 games to go. That is nearly an impossible deficit to overcome at this point in the season unless the Royals can go on a sustained winning streak. Won’t happen if Ned Yost remains as the skipper.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
Let’s go with Alex Gordon today. His solo home run in the 4th was the only offense Kansas City could muster against Scherzer.
Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
- James Shields – 13
- Alex Gordon – 16
- Wade Davis – 5
- Lorenzo Cain – 8
- Luis Mendoza – 3
- Billy Butler – 12
- Ervin Santana – 11
- Miguel Tejada – 5
- Jeremy Guthrie -6
- Eric Hosmer – 14
- Chris Getz – 3
- Mike Moustakas – 7
- Aaron Crow
- Jarrod Dyson – 3
- David Lough – 8
- Alcides Escobar – 6
- J.C. Gutierrez
- Jeff Francoeur
- Bruce Chen – 5
- Salvador Perez – 10
- Will Smith – 2
- George Kottaras
- Louis Coleman – 2
- Bruce Chen – 2
- Justin Maxwell – 2
- Greg Holland -2
- Danny Duffy – 2
- Luke Hochevar – 2
The Tigers
The Tigers won, and Max Scherzer was brilliant, but he still didn’t earn his 20th win on the season. Drew Smyly was the pitcher of record despite allowing the tying run on a wild pitch.
Mike Avila ended up going 2-4 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI. Prince Fielder
Up Next
It comes down to this. The Royals must sweep the Indians to stay in the race. That’s it. James Shields (11-9, 3.38 ERA) will match up against Scott Kazmir (8-8, 4.24 ERA). Shields beat Kazmir 6-2 on Wednesday.
AL Central Notes
Cleveland Indians (81-68): Nick Swisher homerd from each side of the plate for the 13th time in his career, tying Mark Teixeira for the Major League record. The Indians stomped on the White Sox by the score of 7-1.
Minnesota Twins (64-84): The Twins helped out the Royals by scoring 6 runs in their last 2 at bats to come back and beat the Rays, 6-4. Josmil Pinto and Ryan Doumit each homered and Trevor Plouffe knocked out 3 hits on the day.
Chicago White Sox (58-91): The White Sox dropped their 6th game in a row Sunday, losing 7-1 to the Indians.
WILD CARD STANDINGS
- TEXAS RANGERS (81-67, 0 GB)
- TAMPA BAY RAYS (81-67, 0 GB)
- CLEVELAND INDIANS (81-68, .5 GB)
- BALTIMORE ORIOLES (79-70, 2.5 GB)
- NEW YORK YANKEES (79.71, 3 GB)
- KANSAS CITY ROYALS (78-71, 3.5 GB)