Royals Recap: Ervin Santana Suffers From Gopheritis; Lorenzo Cain Scores Twice

Maybe it was seeing the uniforms again. Ervin Santana, who looked like he had conquered his penchant for giving up home runs like Santa Claus giving out gifts at Christmas, served up 4 dingers on Thursday. The Los Angeles Angels (20-27) beat the Kansas City Royals (21-23)  by a count of 5-4.

May 9, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) at bat in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Royals defeated the Orioles 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

Santana, who gave up 39 home runs for the Angels in 2012, had only surrendered 6 in 55.1 innings this season, and half of those were in his second start of the season. Thursday, he gave up 4 in in 7.2 innings to his former mates. The Angels scored 5 runs total against Santana on 8 eights. Santana struck out 8 and walked no one.

At the Plate

The Royals was pretty dormant, as usual, for most of the night at the plate. In the first 8 innings, the Royals scored 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk. In the last inning, they tallied 2 runs, 3 hits, and a walk. Lorenzo Cain went 2-4 and scored twice. Salvador Perez had 3 hits in 4 at bats and drove in a big run in the 9th. George Kottaras had a big RBI pinch hit single, also in the 9th.

This and That

Kelvin Herrera was optioned to AAA Omaha before the game and Kansas City recalled Louis Coleman.

Ned Yost inexplicably batted Chris Getz, he of the .267 OPB, lead off for the second straight game.

Kansas City has fallen two games under .500 for the first time this season since losing their first two games of the year.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Pickings were a bit slim on Thursday. I decided to go with Lorenzo Lain because he was getting on base, sparking the offense, and scoring runs. Hey, isn’t that what a lead off hitter does? Plus, he played great defense.

• James Shields – 5
• Alex Gordon – 9
  
• Wade Davis – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 4
• Luis Mendoza
• Billy Butler – 4
• Ervin Santana – 3
• Miguel Tejada – 2
  
• Jeremy Guthrie -3
• Eric Hosmer
• Chris Getz
• Mike Moustakas – 3
  
• Aaron Crow
• Jarrod Dyson
• David Lough
• Alcides Escobar

The Angels

It was the Angel big boys who did most of the damage. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Mark Trumbo each homered. Chris Iannetta also went deep. Joe Blanton won his first game of the year. He had lost his previous 7 decisions, including a drubbing by the Royals earlier in the month.

Up Next

Luis Mendoza (1-2, 5.50 ERA) tries to get the Royals back in the win column against Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.55 ERA) at 7:10 on Friday.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (26-19): The Tigers are red hot, scoring 7 runs in their win over the Twins. As usual, it was Miguel Cabrera who led the charge. He went 2-3, with another home run, 2 runs, and 3 RBI. Just for giggles, he walked twice, too.

Cleveland Indians (27-19): The Indians stayed ahead of the Tigers by half a game by blasting the Red Sox 12-3. In a rare feat for this team, they had 16 hits with no home runs. Michael Bourn, Asdrubal Cabrera, Mark Reynolds, and Drew Stubbs and multiple hits in the contest.

Minnesota Twins (18-26): Josh Willingham had 2 homers, 2 runs, and 4 RBI in the 7-6 defeat at the hands of the Tigers. Jamey Carroll, Joe Mauer, and Chris Parmelee all had multiple hits.

Chicago White Sox (21-24): The White Sox were off Thursday. With the Royals loss, Chicago is only a half game out of third place in the division.