Alex Gordon Homers In Kansas City Royals Win Over Tampa Bay Rays
By Joel Wagler
Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Finally! Alex Gordon broke the season long home run drought for the Kansas City Royals (4-4) in the 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays (5-5). The Royals were the only team in the Major Leagues without a home run until today.
On the Mound
Jeremy Guthrie continued the terrific performances by Royals starters this season. Guthrie went 7 strong innings, surrendering a single run, on just 4 hits. He struck out 4 and walked one on the afternoon. He picked up his second win of the season.
Aaron Crow pitched a scoreless 8th, and kelvin struggled through the 9th, allowing 2 runs on three hits.
At the Plate
Alex Gordon had a nice day, going 2-4 with a run scored, and 4 RBI. Of course, he had the home run, Kansas City’s first of the year.
Eric Hosmer had two hits and scored twice.
Mike Moustakas, who got his first hit last night in the 9th inning, went 0-4, and is now hitting .038. Hey! It’s not .000 anymore.
The Royals have scored 7 runs twice this season, both times in Jeremy Guthrie’s starts. They have just 13 runs scored in the other 6 games.
This and That
Evidently, the Royals could not recall Johnny Giavotella until today. He was officially optioned on March 30th, and the team had to wait 100 days before recalling him. Today was the 11th day. The Royals recalled him, and he started at second base, going 1-3, with a run and a RBI.
Louis Coleman was activated from the DL, and relievers Donnie Joseph and Aaron Brooks were sent back to AAA.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
With the big home run and 4 RBI, Gordon is the KCK Player of the Game on Wednesday. Jeremy Guthrie was a strong candidate, and was Alcides Escobar because of his terrific defense in the game.
The Rays
Kansas City pounded Jake Odorizzi. The former Royal went 5 innings, giving up all seven runs on 10 hits. He struck out 4 and walked one.
Desmond Jennings belted a home run in the 4th inning. He also had a double on a day when he went 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 2 batted in. Wil Meyers also had 2 hits.
Up Next
The Royals are off on Thursday and travel to Minnesota for a weekend series starting on Friday.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David DeJesus LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .646 |
| Ben Zobrist 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .278 | .755 |
| Matthew Joyce DH | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .391 | 1.109 |
| Evan Longoria 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .371 | 1.006 |
| Brandon Guyer PH | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .429 |
| James Loney 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .194 | .536 |
| Desmond Jennings CF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .270 | .871 |
| Wil Myers RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .229 | .575 |
| Ryan Hanigan C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .238 | .762 |
| Yunel Escobar SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .147 | .430 |
| Team Totals | 34 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | .235 | .660 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: D Jennings (6, off K Herrera); B Guyer (1, off K Herrera).
HR: D Jennings (1, off J Guthrie; 4th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF).
HBP: E Longoria (1, by J Guthrie).
TB: D Jennings 6; W Myers 2; B Guyer 2; E Longoria; B Zobrist; M Joyce.
GIDP: M Joyce (1).
RBI: D Jennings 2 (4); R Hanigan (5).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 2 for 7.
Fielding
DP: 1. R Hanigan-E Longoria.
E: B Zobrist (2).
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norichika Aoki RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .345 | .958 |
| Johnny Giavotella 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .583 |
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .276 | .708 |
| Billy Butler DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .214 | .517 |
| Alex Gordon LF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | .267 | .736 |
| Salvador Perez C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .458 | 1.219 |
| Mike Moustakas 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .038 | .176 |
| Lorenzo Cain CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .320 | .666 |
| Alcides Escobar SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .185 | .437 |
| Team Totals | 32 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 6 | .312 | .812 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
3B: N Aoki (2, off J Odorizzi).
HR: A Gordon (1, off J Odorizzi; 5th inn, 2 on, 2 outs to Deep CF-RF).
SF: J Giavotella (1, off J Odorizzi).
TB: A Gordon 5; N Aoki 3; E Hosmer 2; S Perez; A Escobar; B Butler; J Giavotella; L Cain.
RBI: A Gordon 4 (9); B Butler (3); N Aoki (1); J Giavotella (1).
2-out RBI: A Gordon 3.
Team LOB: 4.
With RISP: 2 for 5.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Moustakas-A Escobar-E Hosmer.
Baserunning
CS: A Escobar (1, 2nd base by J Odorizzi/R Hanigan); A Gordon (1, 3rd base by J Odorizzi/R Hanigan).
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Odorizzi, L (1-1) | 5 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5.73 | 94 | 58 |
| Brandon Gomes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 15 | 9 |
| Jeff Beliveau | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 9 | 7 |
| Cesar Ramos | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.25 | 10 | 7 |
| Team Totals | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7.88 | 128 | 81 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Guthrie, W (2-0) | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3.55 | 109 | 70 |
| Aaron Crow | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | 4 |
| Kelvin Herrera | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 19 | 15 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3.00 | 136 | 89 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: J Guthrie (2; E Longoria).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.