Flurry of Errors Dooms Royals in Tenth

Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 10th inning in Baltimore, Danny Duffy proceeded to hit a batter, tried to nail the lead runner at second on a bunt and failed, and then overthrew first base on another bunt to load the bases with no outs.

After manager Ned Yost finally pulled Duffy after his meltdown, reliever Louis Coleman surrendered the game-winning hit to Nick Markakis on an opposite field pop fly that landed just inside the left-field foul line.

The Orioles ended up with a 3-2 walk-off win.

On the Mound

Jeremy Guthrie struggled in the first inning, giving up a single, walk, and another single to the first 3 batters. But, after Baltimore scored two runs in the first, Guthrie shut them down over the next 6 innings yielding only 4 more hits, 1 walk, and adding 3 strikeouts to pitch seven strong innings.

He handed off a tied game to the bullpen.

Wade Davis looked good yet again from the pen, pitching a clean 8th inning with 2 strikeouts.

Aaron Crow continued his streak of allowing no earned runs to begin the 2014 season (now at 7.1 IP) in the 9th.

Danny Duffy completely lost his composure in the 10th. The Orioles loaded the bases without a hit due to his 3 successive mistakes against consecutive batters. He’s got some growing up to do.

Louis Coleman came into the game in an almost impossible position: bases loaded, no outs, in the bottom of the 10th in a tie game. He managed to strike out Nelson Cruz before allowing Baltimore’s walkoff win on Markakis’ hit.

At the Plate

The Royals continued their early season offensive struggles. Despite 11 hits, (including 3 double) and 2 walks, they only plated two runs. They ended up stranding 11 baserunners.

Every starter got at least one hit, except for 2B Omar Infante.

Salvador Perez broke out of his slump with two singles and a double, but his outburst did not yield an RBI or a run scored.

This offense is going to continue to wallow until Billy Butler breaks out of his ground ball funk and Mike Moustakas manages to be something more than a black hole in the lineup.

This and That

The Royals continued their season-long losing streak while failing to score 4 runs. They are now 0-12. On the flip side, they have yet to lose while scoring 4 (11-0). Seems pretty clear that this team will go only as far as the offense can carry them.

Right now, they’re stuck hovering around .500.

Kansas City’ big chance for a breakthrough came in the third when Alcides Escobar and Eric Hosmer both hit doubles. Yet, Alex Gordon grounded out with the bases loaded and two outs.

Ned Yost continued his old school ways by slavishly sticking to bullpen “roles” in the 10th inning. Rather than bring in strikeout king Greg Holland, who was also warming in the pen, Yost elected to go with Louis Coleman.

While the Royals were likely doomed anyway, Holland’s ability to strikeout hitters gave Kansas City their best chance to stay in the game. Yet, Yost is unlikely to use Holland in such a situation without a save opportunity – especially given that Holland had worked the night before while earning a save.

However, Holland hadn’t worked since last Saturday before appearing in Friday’s game. It’s not as if Holland was dragging around an over-used arm.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Seems to me our nod has to go to Jeremy Guthrie for his seven strong innings—which is the first time Guthrie has won the honors this season. Guthrie has been doing exactly what he’s being paid to do: keep the Royals in games, eat up innings, and pile up quality starts.

On the year, Guthrie is 2-1, with a perfectly acceptable 4.22 ERA. Right now, his much-maligned $24 million, 3-year contract looks like a good decision by GM Dayton Moore.

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•  Salvador Perez
• Jeremy Guthrie
• Jason Vargas – 4
• Alex Gordon – 3
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields-3
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy
• Omar Infante
• Mike Moustakas – 2
• Alcides Escobar – 2
• Eric Hosmer
• Michael Mariot

The Orioles

Nick Markakis had a long day at the park. Not only did the game go into extra innnings, Markakis discovered that he would be playing 1st base for the first time since 2011 due to Chris Davis‘ oblique strain.

He ended up playing a solid defensive game at 1st, piled up two RBI’s, and drove in the game-winner in the 10th.

Markakis told EPSN, “”It was an interesting day. Long day,” Markakis said. “Get to the ballpark, ‘Hey, you are playing first base.’ All right, strap it up and let’s go. It’s always fun. It’s a different view of the game, a different look. It definitely goes a lot quicker in the infield than the outfield.”

Up Next

The Royals and Orioles finish their 3-game series Sunday night. Ace James Shields (2-2, 1.91 ERA) will go for the rubber game for the Royals against Baltimore’s Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 5.40 ERA).

Let’s hope Shields can continue to dominate hitters. He’s struck out 35 in 33 IP this season. The game starts 12:35 Central Time.

Box:

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

2B: A Escobar (7, off W Chen); S Perez (8, off T Hunter); E Hosmer (7, off W Chen).

SH: J Dyson (2, off E Meek); O Infante (1, off W Chen).

IBB: B Butler (1, by W Chen).

TB: S Perez 4; E Hosmer 2; A Escobar 2; N Aoki 2; D Valencia; A Gordon; B Butler; J Maxwell.

RBI: J Maxwell (2); E Hosmer (7).

2-out RBI: E Hosmer; J Maxwell.

Team LOB: 11.

With RISP: 3 for 11.

Fielding

DP: 1. O Infante-A Escobar-E Hosmer.

E: D Duffy 2 (2).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Tabl

3B: J Weeks (1, off J Guthrie).

SH: J Weeks (1, off D Duffy).

HBP: J Schoop (2, by D Duffy).

TB: J Weeks 4; N Markakis 2; J Schoop; R Flaherty; J Hardy; A Jones.

GIDP: D Lough (2).

RBI: N Markakis 2 (8); A Jones (13).

Team LOB: 8.

With RISP: 2 for 6.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Tabl

Balks: None.

WP: None.

HBP: D Duffy (1; J Schoop).

IBB: W Chen (1; B Butler).

Pickoffs: None.