Jarrod Dyson leads Royals to Win over Zack Greinke

Jun 23, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (17) cannot make a play at the plate as Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson (1) scores in the fifth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City battered former Royals ace Zack Greinke for 5 runs on their way to a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Kauffman Stadium Monday night. The win broke Kansas City’s 4-game losing streak.

The trouble started for the Dodgers when Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie only required 4 pitches to retire the side in the top of the 2nd. A still-fatigued Greinke then gave up a home run to Salvador Perez and allowed a two-out rally to plate another run on a single by Jarrod Dyson for an early 2-0 lead.

Kansas City is now 4 games over .500 at 40-36, and have pulled within 2 games of idle Detroit in the American League Central.

On the Mound

Jeremy Guthrie won his 3rd straight game after suffering through 11 consecutive starts without recording a victory. Guthrie went 7.2 IP, allowing 7 hits, no walks, 2 earned runs with 5 strikeouts. He was remarkably efficient through the first 4 innings, requiring only 29 pitches before the top of the 5th.

Wade Davis came in to get Guthrie out of a jam in the 8th inning. Guthrie gave up his 2 runs on Hanley Ramirez‘s double to deep center and left with a runner at 2nd. Davis recorded the final out. Davis has not allowed an earned run over his last 22.1 innings pitched.

Greg Holland earned his 22nd save, despite allowing a leadoff home run to Adrian Gonzalez in the 9th. Holland came back to retire the next 3 hitters, the final 2 by strikeout.

At the Plate

Jarrod Dyson went a perfect 3-3, with 3 singles, 1 run scored, 2 stolen bases, and 2 RBI’s. Dyson manufactured a run in the 5th when he led off with a single, stole second, and scored on Lorenzo Cain‘s flare into right field. He again put himself in position to score another run in the 8th with his 2nd stolen base, but Cain could not deliver a second time.

Salvador Perez was the Royals big bopper on the day, going 2-4 with a solo home run (9), a double, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI.

Alcides Escobar also had a good day going 2-3, with a single, triple, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Escobar could have tried for an inside-the-park home run when the ball bounced away from Dodger right-fielder Yasiel Puig, but Puig made a fast recovery that forced 3rd base coach Mike Jirshele to put up the stop sign. Escobar scored on Dyson’s single to center.

This and That

Again, the Royals supported their pitching staff with some outstanding defense.

Eric Hosmer robbed Andre Eihier by fielding a hard smash down the 1st base line and then diving to the bag to make the putout in the 2nd.

Jarrod Dyson made a fine running catch in deep center on a drive to the wall by Yasiel Puig in the 4th.

Lorenzo Cain speared a drive by Puig on a liner to right in the 6th inning.

Eric Hosmer victimized Adrian Gonzalez on a hard smash down the line to retire his fellow 1st baseman.

The Royals drew even at home at 19-19 with Monday’s win.

Zack Greinke made his 3rd start at Kauffman Stadium since he demanded a trade to Milwaukee following the 2010 season. Greinke is 0-3 in those games.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

I’m going with Jarrod Dyson as the Royals Player of the Game. Dyson helped the Royals in all three phases of the game: at the plate, on the basepaths, and in the field. Dyson has really learned how to use his speed in the field and at the plate

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Jarrod Dyson
• Lorenzo Cain – 4
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 5
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 6
• Alex Gordon – 8
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 6
• Yordano Ventura – 4
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 5
• Omar Infante – 2
• Mike Moustakas – 4
• Alcides Escobar – 4
• Eric Hosmer – 8
• Michael Mariot
• Casey Coleman

The Dodgers

Yasiel Puig was a hard-luck 0-4 on Monday, despite squaring up the ball hard all night. Eric Hosmer and Jarrod Dyson robbed in in consecutive at bats of balls that would have fallen for at least doubles without Gold Glove caliber defensive plays.

Up Next

The opposing pitching doesn’t get any easier on Tuesday. The Royals will send Danny Duffy (4-6, 2.80 ERA) against Clayton Kershaw (7-2, 2.52 ERA) who not only won last year’s N.L. Cy Young award, but also pitched a no-hitter in his last outing for the Dodgers. The match-up will pit tow of the best young left-handers in the game against one another. Game time is 7:10 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: H Ramirez (21, off J Guthrie).
HR: A Gonzalez (13, off G Holland, 9th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep RF).
TB: A Gonzalez 5; H Ramirez 2; J Turner; M Kemp; D Gordon; M Rojas; A Ellis.
GIDP: M Rojas (2).
RBI: H Ramirez 2 (46); A Gonzalez (46).
2-out RBI: H Ramirez 2.
Team LOB: 4.
With RISP: 1 for 7.
Fielding
DP: 1. C Triunfel-A Gonzalez.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: S Perez (17, off Z Greinke).
3B: A Escobar (2, off Z Greinke).
HR: S Perez (9, off Z Greinke, 2nd inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF).
TB: S Perez 6; A Escobar 4; J Dyson 3; L Cain 2; B Butler; O Infante.
GIDP: A Gordon (5).
RBI: J Dyson 2 (9); L Cain (31); A Escobar (24); S Perez (27).
2-out RBI: J Dyson 2; A Escobar.
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 4 for 12.
Fielding
DP: 1. O Infante-A Escobar-E Hosmer.
Baserunning
SB: O Infante (2, 2nd base off Z Greinke/A Ellis); J Dyson 2 (12, 2nd base off Z Greinke/A Ellis, 2nd base off J Wright/A Ellis).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: Z Greinke (6).
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.