Yordano Ventura Has A Bad Day In Loss
By Joel Wagler
Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura (30) Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Yordano Ventura had his first terrible game as a major leaguer, and the Kansas City Royals (9-8) saw their 5-game winning streak come to a skidding halt in a 8-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins (9-9).
On the Mound
Yordano Ventura has been pretty good in his first big league starts but he struggled mightily in his 6th start. He surrendered 4 runs on 6 hits and 4 hits in just 4 innings. The good news is that he still was able to strike out 6 on the afternoon.
Ventura wasn’t the only one who struggled on the mound. Louis Coleman wasn’t sharp, and Justin Marks was not good in his big league debut. Marks, who sports a career minor league ERA of 4.49, and WHIP of 1.420, allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks in just 2 innings.
Michael Mariot was the pitching bright spot on Sunday, as he went 2 scoreless innings in mop up duty.
At the Plate
Alcides Escobar had an excellent game. He went 2-3 with a double and home run, with 2 runs and 2 RBI. He also drew a very rare walk.
Despite scoring just 3 runs, the Royals did produce 11 hits. In addition to Escobar, Nori Aoki, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, and Justin Maxwell also had 2 hits in the game. the Royals just lacked timely hitting in this one.
This and That
In the last 8 games, Salvador Perez is 3-34 (.088), all doubles. After walking 8 times and hitting .458 in the first 8 games, he hasn’t walked in the last 8 games either.
For the second straight game, Ventura threw away a pick off throw for an error.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
While several Royals had multiple hits in the game, Alcides Escobar was by far the most productive. Escobar, who raised his average to .298 on the season, was the easy choice in a game that seemed off kilter right from the get go.
- Salvador Perez
- Jason Vargas – 4
- Alex Gordon – 3
- Bruce Chen
- James Shields-2
- Yordano Ventura – 2
- Mike Moustakas
- Danny Duffy
- Omar Infante
- Mike Moustakas
- Alcides Escobar
The Twins
Josmil Pinto continues to damage the Royals. Pinto hit his 4th home run of the season, and his 3rd against Kansas City. Trevor Plouffe also had a big game, going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 batted in.
Phil Hughes allowed just 3 runs despite giving up 9 hits. He didn’t blow the Royals away or anything, but he got them out when he had to.
Up Next
Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 4.34 ERA) looks to stay unbeaten as the Royals take to the road against Zach McAllister (2-0, 2.04) and the Cleveland Indians. First pitch is at 6:05 Central. While it is still April, the Royals need to at least split with the Indians in this 4-game series.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Dozier 2B | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .219 | .779 |
| Joe Mauer 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .257 | .685 |
| Trevor Plouffe 3B | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .313 | .912 |
| Chris Colabello RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .353 | .927 |
| Chris Herrmann RF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .083 | .237 |
| Jason Kubel LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | .328 | .901 |
| Josmil Pinto DH | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | .233 | .946 |
| Kurt Suzuki C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .294 | .805 |
| Aaron Hicks CF | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .167 | .492 |
| Eduardo Escobar SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .278 | .594 |
| Team Totals | 38 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 11 | .342 | 1.009 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: K Suzuki (3, off J Marks); T Plouffe 2 (7, 1 off Y Ventura, 1 off J Marks).
3B: T Plouffe (1, off Y Ventura).
HR: J Pinto (4, off L Coleman; 5th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep LF-CF).
TB: T Plouffe 7; J Pinto 4; K Suzuki 3; B Dozier 3; E Escobar 2; C Colabello; J Kubel.
GIDP: B Dozier (1).
RBI: K Suzuki 2 (14); T Plouffe 2 (13); J Kubel (11); E Escobar (2); C Colabello (20); J Pinto (8).
2-out RBI: E Escobar; J Pinto.
Team LOB: 11.
With RISP: 6 for 14.
Fielding
DP: 1. B Dozier-E Escobar-J Mauer.
Baserunning
CS: C Colabello (2, 2nd base by L Coleman/S Perez).
Pickoffs: A Hicks (1st base by Y Ventura).
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nori Aoki RF | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .286 | .735 |
| Omar Infante 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .283 | .705 |
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .292 | .706 |
| Salvador Perez C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .242 | .683 |
| Brett Hayes C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 |
| Alex Gordon LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .281 | .741 |
| Billy Butler DH | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .213 | .515 |
| Mike Moustakas 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .125 | .474 |
| Justin Maxwell CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .176 | .498 |
| Alcides Escobar SS | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .298 | .772 |
| Team Totals | 37 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 6 | .297 | .748 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: A Escobar (5, off P Hughes); J Maxwell (1, off P Hughes).
HR: A Escobar (1, off P Hughes; 7th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep LF).
TB: A Escobar 6; J Maxwell 3; E Hosmer 2; B Butler 2; N Aoki 2; O Infante.
GIDP: S Perez (4).
RBI: A Escobar 2 (7); O Infante (9).
Team LOB: 8.
With RISP: 1 for 4.
Fielding
DP: 2. S Perez-M Moustakas; A Escobar-O Infante-E Hosmer.
E: Y Ventura (2).
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Hughes, W (1-1) | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6.43 | 96 | 69 |
| Brian Duensing | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 15 | 9 |
| Casey Fien | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.05 | 7 | 6 |
| Glen Perkins | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.50 | 11 | 9 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3.00 | 129 | 93 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | BF | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yordano Ventura, L (1-1) | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2.65 | 22 | 94 | 56 |
| Louis Coleman | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5.40 | 3 | 11 | 7 |
| Justin Marks | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13.50 | 13 | 55 | 35 |
| Michael Mariot | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.50 | 8 | 31 | 17 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 8.00 | 46 | 191 | 115 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Y Ventura faced 2 batters in the 5th inning.
Balks: None.
WP: Y Ventura (1).
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: Y Ventura (0; A Hicks, 1st base).
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