Kansas City Royals Bullpen Blows three-run lead in Loss

The Kansas City Royals bullpen collapsed Sunday afternoon and squandered a 3-0 7th inning lead in their eventual 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

Kelvin Herrera relieved starter Jason Vargas with 1 out and one on in the 7th inning. Herrera finally allowed the Angels to break through with a two-out double by Mike Trout which scored the first Los Angeles run. After hitting Albert Pujols with a pitch to load the bases, David Freese followed with a single to tie the game.

Chris Iannetta hit a go ahead home run off Tim Collins in the 8th and the Royals were not able to respond in the top of the 9th despite a double by Salvador Perez.

The loss dropped the Royals under .500 at 24-25. Kansas City remains 5.5 games behind Detroit in the Central.

On the Mound

Jason Vargas pitched 6.1 strong innings, giving up 3 hits, 5 walks, and one run. The Angels had not scored a run when he left the game, but Kelvin Herrera failed to do his job and cost Vargas the win.

Kelvin Herrera flat out failed in the 7th inning. Herrera hit one batsman and gave up four hits in the 7th inning collapse, which allowed Los Angeles back into the game. He only escaped the inning when Lorenzo Cain threw out Albert Pujols at home plate trying to score from second on a single by C.J. Cron.

Tim Collins continued the bullpen failure by allowing a solo shot to Chris Ianneta with one out in the 8th.

At the Plate

The Royals only got 6 hits on the day, with two doubles. and three walks. However, they were poised to win the game because they bunched their offense in the 3rd to score three runs.

Pedro Ciriaco plated the first run with a double. Eric Hosmer followed with a sacrifice fly, and Alex Gordon finished the scoring with a two-out single.

No Royals player had more than a single hit. Jarrod Dyson was the only Royal to get on base twice going 1-3, with 1 walk, and 1 run scored. It turned out to be yet another constipated performance at the plate.

This and That

Lorenzo Cain‘s throw home allowed the Royals to escape the 7th inning with the game tied. Cain continues to play Gold Glove defense from whatever position he plays (this time RF). I think he’s the best defensive outfielder in baseball.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Jason Vargas gets the KC Kingdom nod for his strong 6.1 innings. He left the game without the Angels scoring a run. It’s not his fault the bullpen could not nail down the win.

• Salvador Perez – 2
• Jeremy Guthrie — 2
• Jason Vargas – 5
• Alex Gordon – 5
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 5
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 3
• Omar Infante
• Mike Moustakas – 3
• Alcides Escobar – 3
• Eric Hosmer – 6
• Michael Mariot
• Casey Coleman
• Danny Valencia

The Angels

Chris Iannetta was a thorn in Kansas City’s side the whole weekend. Not only did he have the game-winning solo shot on Sunday, he also hit a home run on Friday.

Mike Trout showed why he is the best player in the game, with 5 hits, two home runs, a double, 3 RBI’s and some great defensive play (including reaching over the wall to pull back a would-be home run). I don’t think he’s as good as Lorenzo Cain in the field, but I’m biased. However, Trout is likely to get Gold Glove recognition in center for his overall play, even if Cain remains healthy all season.

Up Next

The Royals return home to take on the Houston Astros in a three-game series. Kansas City will send Yordano Ventura (2-4, 2.80 ERA) to the mound to start things off, against Scott Feldman (2-2, 3.02 ERA)  for the Astros. Game time is 7:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/26/2014.

2B: P Ciriaco (1, off G Richards); S Perez (13, off E Frieri).
SF: E Hosmer (4, off G Richards).
TB: S Perez 2; P Ciriaco 2; A Gordon; J Paredes; J Dyson; A Escobar.
GIDP: B Butler (6).
RBI: E Hosmer (23); P Ciriaco (1); A Gordon (26).
2-out RBI: A Gordon.
Team LOB: 4.
With RISP: 3 for 6.
Fielding
DP: 1. A Escobar-P Ciriaco-E Hosmer.
Outfield Assists: L Cain (A Pujols at home plate).
Baserunning
SB: J Dyson (7, 2nd base off G Richards/C Iannetta).
CS: J Dyson (3, 2nd base by G Richards/C Iannetta).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/26/2014.

2B: M Trout (11, off K Herrera).
HR: C Iannetta (5, off T Collins, 8th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep LF Line).
HBP: A Pujols (3, by K Herrera).
TB: C Iannetta 5; M Trout 2; H Kendrick; E Aybar; C Cron; D Freese; R Ibanez.
GIDP: A Pujols (8).
RBI: D Freese 2 (14); M Trout (34); C Iannetta (16).
2-out RBI: D Freese 2; M Trout.
Team LOB: 8.
With RISP: 3 for 9.
Fielding
DP: 1. E Aybar-C Cron.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/26/2014.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/26/2014.

Balks: G Richards (1).
WP: G Richards (11).
HBP: K Herrera (1; A Pujols).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.