Yordano Ventura Leads Kansas City Royals In Bounce Back Win
By Joel Wagler
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Royals (5-7), behind rookie Yordano Ventura, got back on the right track against the Houston Astros (5-9) Tuesday after being derailed in Minnesota over the weekend. It was not a flashy or overwhelming victory, but it was solid enough, and that is what matters.
On the Mound
Yordano Ventura set a career single game highs in innings pitched (7), strikeouts (7), pitches (101) while earning his first major league victory. He surrendered just 2 runs on 4 hits, and he walked 3. The first run was unearned when Ventura threw the ball away on a pick off move to third.
All in all, the Royals, and their fans, have to be thrilled with the youngster’s performance.
In a display of what Manager Ned Yost envisioned in Spring Training, Wade Davis and Greg Holland closed out the contest with a perfect inning each. Davis struck out 2, and Holland, 3.
At the Plate
The Royals only managed 7 hits, but 4 of them were for extra bases. Omar Infante hit the club’s 2nd home run of the season in the first and Salvador Perez, Eric Hosmer, and Lorenzo Cain each had a double. Both Hosmer and Cain had 2 hits.
Omar Infante had 2 runs scored and 2 RBI in the game.
This and That
Kansas City now how has 2 home runs on the season as a team. Fifty-three individual players have more than the Royals, including Mike Zunino, Kole Calhoun, and Brad Miller – well known superstars all.
Billy Butler continues his slide. Though he did produce a sacrifice fly, Butler went 0-3 to lower his average to .143. His OPS sits at .367, which ranks 202nd in the majors, out of 206.
Mike Moustakas, who went 0-4, and is hitting .100, has an OPS of .350, which ranks 204th. Only Josh Reddick of Oakland (.293), and Zack Cozart of the Cincinnati Reds (.279) are lower.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
Omar Infante had a terrific offensive games when the Royals truly needed it, and Yordano Ventura had another terrific start. We are going to go with both because the Kansas City Royals really needed this game, and both came through big time.
- Salvador Perez
- Jason Vargas – 3
- Alex Gordon – 2
- Bruce Chen
- James Shields
- Yordano Ventura – 2
- Mike Moustakas
- Danny Duffy
- Omar Infante
The Astros
Houston only managed 4 hits on the night against Ventura, Davis, and Holland, and struck out 12 times. Chris Carter whiffed 3 times in the contest.
Lucas Harrell through the same number of pitches that Ventura did, but in two less innings. He gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings, striking out 4 and walking 3.
Up Next
Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 3.55) goes for his third win of the season. Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 3.75 ERA) will go for the Astros. First pitch at 7:10 Central.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nori Aoki RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .250 | .699 |
| Omar Infante 2B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .297 | .759 |
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .273 | .711 |
| Billy Butler DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .143 | .367 |
| Alex Gordon LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .701 |
| Salvador Perez C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .325 | .913 |
| Mike Moustakas 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .100 | .350 |
| Lorenzo Cain CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .342 | .770 |
| Alcides Escobar SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .225 | .519 |
| Team Totals | 33 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | .212 | .664 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: S Perez (6, off L Harrell); E Hosmer (4, off L Harrell); L Cain (2, off P Clemens).
HR: O Infante (1, off L Harrell; 1st inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep LF).
SF: B Butler (2, off L Harrell).
TB: O Infante 4; L Cain 3; E Hosmer 3; S Perez 2; N Aoki.
RBI: O Infante 2 (4); E Hosmer (3); B Butler (5).
2-out RBI: E Hosmer.
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 0 for 7.
Fielding
E: Y Ventura (1).
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter Fowler CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .237 | .722 |
| Alex Presley RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .128 | .432 |
| Jason Castro DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .179 | .674 |
| Jose Altuve 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .269 | .685 |
| Chris Carter 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .136 | .467 |
| Matt Dominguez 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .196 | .624 |
| Robbie Grossman LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .125 | .549 |
| Carlos Corporan C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .190 | .694 |
| Jonathan Villar SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .163 | .599 |
| Team Totals | 31 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | .129 | .464 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: D Fowler (3, off Y Ventura).
HR: C Corporan (2, off Y Ventura; 5th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep RF Line).
TB: C Corporan 4; D Fowler 2; M Dominguez; J Castro.
RBI: C Corporan (3).
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 1 for 5.
Fielding
E: R Grossman (1).
Baserunning
Pickoffs: J Castro (1st base by Y Ventura).
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yordano Ventura, W (1-0) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0.69 | 101 | 66 |
| Wade Davis, H (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.68 | 14 | 9 |
| Greg Holland, S (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.60 | 17 | 10 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 1.00 | 132 | 85 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Harrell, L (0-3) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9.49 | 101 | 56 |
| Paul Clemens | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 31 | 22 |
| Josh Fields | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.86 | 16 | 11 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 4.00 | 148 | 89 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: Y Ventura (0; J Castro, 1st base).