Yordano Ventura Leads Kansas City Royals In Bounce Back Win

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.

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