Eric Hosmer Rips Four Hits In Win For Kansas City Royals

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Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Hosmer still doesn’t have a home run but he did produce 4 hits for James Shields and the Kansas City Royals (10-9) in the 8-2 win over the Cleveland Indians (9-11) Tuesday night. The Royals have been struggling on offense all season but they set a 2014 high for runs scored with 8 in this game.

On the Mound

James Shields continues to do what the Royals need him to do. On Tuesday, he lasted 6 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 unearned), 6 hits, and a walk. He struck out 9 on the evening. He lowered his ERA to 1.91 on the season, and evened his record at 2-2.

Danny Duffy continues to be very strong out of the bullpen. He pitched 2 scoreless innings, Aaron Crow finished out the the game. Neither pitcher has allowed an earned run of their own this season.

At the Plate

Mike Moustakas really got things going with a 3-run bomb in the 4th inning. The Royals were scoreless against Danny Salazar through 3, but they pounded him in the 4th and 5th innings, chasing him from the game. Moustakas’ home run was the most key individual hit but he was unable to follow it up with any more hits. Still, it is nice to see some pop form Moose’s bat.

Eric Hosmer had a big night. He hasn’t provided much spark from the number three spot, but in this contest, he went 4-5 with 2 doubles, 3 runs scored, and a RBI. Billy Butler continues to slowly pull his average up, though he still hasn’t homered either. Butler went 2-4 with a walk, a double, a run, and a RBI.

Alcides Escobar continues to shine offensively. He went 2-4 with a run scored,and another walk. He is hitting .317 on the year.

This and That

Among American League starters, James Shields is 4th in strikeouts with 35 and 10th in the ERA at 1.91.

The Royals are second in the AL with a 3.14 ERA. Oakland is first with a 2.67 ERA. No other team is under 3.54.

The Royals are 10-0 when scoring 4 or more runs, and 0-9 when scoring 3 or less. The 10-0 mark is the best in the AL.

I wonder if C.C. Lee is the love child of C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee from their days together in Cleveland?

The Royals scored 3 runs against the Indians’ bullpen, 1 more than they had scored against relievers in the last 7 games, covering 21.2 innings.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields (33) Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Co- Players of the Game in this one. Shields 1 earned run and 9 strikeouts shut down the Indians, and Eric Hosmer helped out his pitchers with a big night at the plate. Honorable mention goes to Mike Moustakas for his big home run.

The Indians

Danny Salazar fell to 0-3 with a 7.85 ERA. It seems he might need a stint in AAA.

Carlos Santana went 0-4, dropping his average to .136, and his Slugging Percentage to  .212. It seems the Royals aren’t the only team with slumping stars.

Up Next

Jason Vargas (2-0, 1.24 ERA) tries to maintain his early season excellence as he faces the Indians’ ace, Justin Masterson (0-0, 4.98 ERA), who is still looking for his first 2014 victory. Vargas has only walked 6 batters in 29 innings , and will have to maintain this control against the Indians today. First pitch is slated for 6:05.

BattingABRHRBIBBSOBAOPS
Nori Aoki RF301022.271.709
Omar Infante 2B511001.290.729
Eric Hosmer 1B534100.311.754
Billy Butler DH412111.217.538
   Justin Maxwell PR-DH010000.167.472
Alex Gordon LF401211.292.778
Salvador Perez C500001.211.601
Mike Moustakas 3B511300.138.531
Alcides Escobar SS412011.317.828
Jarrod Dyson CF301110.167.397
Team Totals38813867.342.958

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

2B: E Hosmer 2 (6, 1 off C Lee, 1 off D Salazar); B Butler (2, off D Salazar); A Gordon (8, off S Atchison).

HR: M Moustakas (3, off D Salazar; 4th inn, 2 on, 2 outs to Deep RF Line).

TB: E Hosmer 6; M Moustakas 4; B Butler 3; A Gordon 2; A Escobar 2; N Aoki; O Infante; J Dyson.

GIDP: J Dyson (1).

RBI: M Moustakas 3 (9); A Gordon 2 (11); B Butler (6); E Hosmer (6); J Dyson (1).

2-out RBI: M Moustakas 3; J Dyson.

Team LOB: 9.

With RISP: 4 for 15.

Fielding

E: O Infante (1).

Baserunning

SB: A Escobar (3, 2nd base off D Salazar/Y Gomes).

CS: N Aoki (3, 2nd base by C Lee/Y Gomes).

BattingABRHRBIBBSOBAOPS
Michael Bourn CF502102.192.442
Nick Swisher 1B402011.213.634
Jason Kipnis 2B500001.229.775
Carlos Santana 3B400002.136.525
Michael Brantley LF412000.293.876
Asdrubal Cabrera SS410002.205.626
David Murphy RF401001.288.840
Yan Gomes C402101.267.768
Lonnie Chisenhall DH300001.4171.045
Team Totals37292111.243.579

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

2B: Y Gomes (3, off J Shields); N Swisher (4, off D Duffy).

HBP: L Chisenhall (1, by J Shields).

TB: Y Gomes 3; N Swisher 3; M Bourn 2; M Brantley 2; D Murphy.

RBI: Y Gomes (7); M Bourn (1).

2-out RBI: M Bourn; Y Gomes.

Team LOB: 10.

With RISP: 2 for 9.

Fielding

DP: 1. A Cabrera-N Swisher.

E: Y Gomes (6).

Baserunning

SB: M Brantley (3, 2nd base off J Shields/S Perez).

PitchingIPHRERBBSOHRERAPitStr
James Shields, W (2-2) 6 6211901.9110665
Danny Duffy 2 2000200.003825
Aaron Crow 1 1000000.001510
Team Totals992111101.00159100

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

PitchingIPHRERBBSOHRERAPitStr
Danny Salazar, L (0-3) 4.17542617.858952
Josh Outman 1.11002001.172411
C.C. Lee 2 2111103.382919
Scott Atchison 0.23221003.002114
Bryan Shaw 0.20000002.0074
Team Totals913876717.00170100

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Balks: None.

WP: J Outman (1).

HBP: J Shields (3; L Chisenhall).

IBB: None.

Pickoffs: None.

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