Royals Recap: Alex Gordon Gets 4 Hits; Offense Strands 12; Kelvin Herrera Serves Up Homer

At least it wasn’t 2-1. On Sunday, the Kansas City Royals (20-20) dropped another 1-run game to the Oakland Athletics (23-22). Instead of losing 2-1 like the first two games, the Royals fell 4-3 despite Alex Gordon‘s 4 hits.

May 6, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher

(40) delivers a pitch in the tenth inning of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium. The White Sox won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

Louis Mendoza went 6 for his third straight start. This time, he gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 8 hits. He struck out 4 and didn’t walk a batter. Kelvin Herrera gave up his 8th home run over his last 14 innings. He only surrendered 4 all season in 2012. It was Herrera’s 4th loss on the season.

At the Plate

Alex Gordon had 3 singles, a double, a run, and a RBI on the day. He remains the only consistent threat in the Royals’ line-up. Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, and (surprisingly) Chris Getz each had 2 hits. Jeff Francoeur and Mike Moustakas went 0-9 combined and left 10 total runners on base. As a team, the Royals stranded 12 base runners. Hard to swallow another 1-run loss with a number like that glaring at you.

This and That

Alex Gordon has an American League leading 20 multi-hit games.

This was the third 3-game losing streak for the Royals in the past 2 weeks.

Mike Moustakas‘ average has dropped to .178 with only 10 RBI in 135 at bats. His OPS is a bleak .563.

David Lough, playing center field for no apparent reason, let a routine ball he should have caught on the fly, bounce right by him on a belt high hop. The ball rolled to the wall and allowed catcher Derek Norris to get to third. He scored the tying run later in the inning.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

We may have to rename his the Alex Gordon Player of the Game Award as he wins the accolade for the 9th time. No other player has more than 4 this season.

• James Shields – 4
• Alex Gordon – 9
  
• Wade Davis – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 3
• Luis Mendoza
• Billy Butler – 4
• Ervin Santana – 3
• Miguel Tejada
• Jeremy Guthrie -3
• Eric Hosmer
• Chris Getz
• Mike Moustakas – 3
  
• Aaron Crow
• Jarrod Dyson
• David Lough

The Athletics

Oakland has to be thrilled to win three games in which they only scored 7 earned runs. Yoenis Cespedes went 2-4 with the game winning home run in the 8th off Herrera. He also racked up 2 runs and a RBI. It was his 8th home run despite a stint on the DL. Ryan Cook earned his first save of the year.

Up Next

Jeremy Guthrie (5-1, 2.82 ERA) will attempt to bounce back from his first loss of 2013 in Houston. He will face Dallas Keuchel ((0-1, 4.82 ERA). Kansas City desperately needs to capitalize on the fact that Houston is tied with the Miami Marlins for the worst record in baseball at 12-32.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (23-19): In a slugfest Sunday night, the Tigers fell to Texas 11-8 despite a monster night by Miguel Cabrera. Miggy went 4-4 with 3 home runs, 4 runs scored, and 5 RBI. He also walked twice.

Cleveland Indians (25-17): The Indians continue to win ball games. Justin Masterson won his 7 game by pitching 7 shutout innings, striking out 11. Michael Brantley was the hitting star, going 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI.

Minnesota Twins (18-21): The Twins are starting to fall off the pace with their fifth consecutive loss. They only produced 3 hits through the first innings against Boston in  the 5-1 defeat, before creating a little excitement in the 9th with 2 hits to start the frame. Both runners were stranded.

Chicago White Sox (19-23): Chicago only mustered 4 hits in 7 frames off the Angels’ Jason Vargas. They did  scrape together 2 runs against the LA bullpen.