Royals Recap: Doubleheader Split – Tale of 2 Games

The Kansas City Royals (13-9) played a day/night doubleheader Sunday against the Cleveland Indians (9-13). The teams split and the two games couldn’t have been more different for the Kansas City Royals. The afternoon game was as near a perfectly played game for Kansas City as it could be, with great pitching and offense, plus solid defense. The evening offering was as brutal on all fronts as the the first game was good. The Royals maintain a slim half game lead over the Tigers in the division.

April 17, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) and shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) celebrate beating the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Royals won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

In game one, Jeremy Guthrie did a lot of bending but no breaking. He allowed 9 base runners by no runs in his 6.2 innings of work. Tim Collins and Luke Hochevar kept the shutout intact with 2.1 innings of scoreless ball. In game two, Will Smith made his season debut but got beat up early and often. He surrendered 6 runs (2 unearned) on 8 hits and a walk, and he struck out 5. Bruce Chen and J.C. Gutierrez went 5 innings in relief and gave up 7 hits and 4 runs (2 unearned). Neither walked a batter.

At the Plate

The Royals pounded out 9 runs on 10 hits in the afternoon tilt. There were heroes galore. Alex Gordon and Alcides Escobar homered. Mike Moustakas was 1-1 with 3 walks. Jarrod Dyson and Jeff Francoeur each added 2 hits. In the evening match-up, they could not get to Corey Kluber, scoring only 2 runs on 7 hits against him. Alcides Escobar and 2 hits and a walk, and Chris Getz drove in 2 but that was about it on offense.

This and That

In the Royals two losses this week, Mike Moustakas errors on defense have allowed 6 (SIX!!!) unearned runs. That is 4 more than he has driven in – ALL YEAR! Eric Hosmer contributed a 2-run error of his own in game two on Sunday.

22 games into the season and Alcides Escobar is tied for the team lead in home runs with 3. Folks, that ain’t a good thing. Billy Butler and Alex Gordon also have 3.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

No one really deserved kudos for their performances in game two, so we are going to award 2 POGs in game one. Jeremy Guthrie for his stalwart work on the mound, and Mike Moustakas for showing patience in the midst of a horrible slump by walking 3 times. It would have been easy to give Alex Gordon the nod yet again, especially after Moustakas’ fielding error in game two, but Moose needs something positive to go his way.

• James Shields – 2
• Alex Gordon – 4
  
• Wade Davis – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 2
• Luis Mendoza
• Billy Butler
• Ervin Santana – 3
• Miguel Tejada
  
• Jeremy Guthrie -2
• Eric Hosmer
  
• Chris Getz
• Mike Moustakas

The Indians

Carlos Santana went 6-9 for the day Sunday, raising his average to .388. Cory Kluber is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera each had 2 hits and 2 runs scored in the nightcap. Justin Masterson had his worst outing of the year in game one, going 6.1 innings, getting touched for 7 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks. He did strike 9 on the day.

Up Next

Monday night, Wade Davis (2-1, 3.20 ERA) will match up against Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2, 10.06 ERA), at 7:10.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (13-10): Doug Fister only allowed 6 base runners while holding the Braves potent offense to 3 runs over 7 innings. Miguel Cabrera had a big night (imagine that), going 2-4 with a home run, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI in the victory.

Minnesota Twins (11-10): Kevin Correia continues to pitch brilliantly for the Twins. Sunday agaisnt Texas, he threw 8 frames of shout out ball, allowing 6 hits and 1 walk. He only struck out 2. Justin Morneau hit his second round tripper of the year in the win.

Chicago White Sox (10-14): The Pale Hose bullpen gave up 5 runs (2 unearned) in three innings in the loss to the Rays. Paul Konerko hit his 4 home run of the year.