Jason Vargas Three-hits the Mariners, Royals Win
By John Viril
Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Soft-tossing lefty Jason Vargas had great movement on his pitches Friday night in Seattle, striking out 6 in 7 scoreless innings while allowing only 3 hits in Kansas City’s 6-1 victory. Vargas allowed no walks in what was his best performance of the season.
The free-agent acquisition Vargas ran his record to 3-1, and lowered his ERA to 3.04, after getting bombed by Detroit for 7 runs in 5 innings last Sunday. Vargas pitched for Seattle last season.
Royals hitters did their part, pecking away at Mariner pitching for 16 singles, 1 walk, and 6 runs.
Kansas City is now 17-18 on the season, and closed to within 5 games of leader Detroit in the A.L. Central.
On the Mound
It was the Jason Vargas show on Friday night. His ball dipped and twirled and evaded Seattle bats like a politician dodges the truth on election night. His Bill James game score was an outstanding 77. He should pitch against his old team more often.
Houdini Aaron Crow gave up a double, a walk, and a run but somehow evaded an earned run to continue his 0.00 ERA streak in the 8th. Crow has gone 14 innings without giving up an earned run to begin the 2014 season.
Tim Collins mopped up in the 9th, allowing 1 walk and 1 hit as well, before retiring the side without damage.
At the Plate
The Royals used the “Death of the Thousand Cuts” to put away Seattle on Friday. Single followed single as well as getting help from two unearned runs on one error by Seattle. Kansas City scored 6 runs on 16 hits, 1 walk and 1 stolen base.
Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, and Alex Gordon all had 3 hits for the Royals. Every starter except, you guessed it, Mike Moustakas got a hit Friday night, but no player drove in more than one run. It was an old-school, contact hitter’s game where the Royals also struck out a mere two times.
The game resembled a turn-of-the century deadball era game—you know, back when they didn’t have an outfield fence.
Hosmer continued his 5 game hitting streak. His 3 hits makes him 12-22 over the 5 game stretch, with 1 double, 1 HR, and 8 RBI’s. Hosmer is now hitting .326 on the season.
This and That
Johnny Giavotella was recalled from AAA Omaha Friday night to fill in for the injured Omar Infante. Reliever Mike Mariot was optioned to Omaha to make room for Gio. Giavotella went 1-5 with 1 RBI. If Johnny G can hit the ball as an injury fill-in, he will make it hard for manager Ned Yost to keep struggling Mike Moustakas in the lineup.
Moustakas’ line has now sunk to Jeff Francoeur-esque levels of horrible. Moose’s .142/.212/.302 line brings back the hitting prowess of Tony Pena, Jr.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
Putting up a 3-hit shutout pretty much makes Jason Vargas a no-brainer for player of the game. He clearly felt comfortable pitching in the familiar surroundings of Safeco field, where the distant fences fit his fly-ball style.
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- Billy Butler — 2
- Wade Davis
- Norichika Aoki
- Salvador Perez – 2
- Jeremy Guthrie
- Jason Vargas – 5
- Alex Gordon – 3
- Bruce Chen
- James Shields – 4
- Yordano Ventura – 3
- Mike Moustakas
- Danny Duffy — 2
- Omar Infante –
- Mike Moustakas – 2
- Alcides Escobar –3
- Eric Hosmer –4
- Michael Mariot
The Mariners
Seattle had a miserable night at the plate. They had 5 hits, 2 walks, and scored 1 unearned run on a night they’d rather forget. No Mariner batter got more than 1 hit or could get on base more than once.
Brandon Maurer continued to struggle this season, giving up 4 earned runs in 7.1 IP. His record sank to 1-1, with a 6.20 ERA.
Up Next
The Royals play their 3rd game of their long 4-game set in Seattle on Saturday. The Royals will send rookie phenom Yordano Ventura (2-1, 2.00 ERA) against Seattle’s Chris Young (2-0, 3.03 ERA). Ventura night is Must See TV for Royals fans, and baseball purists, this season. Gametime is 9:10 CST at Safeco Field.
Box
| Royals Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nori Aoki RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .284 | .686 | 19 | 16 |
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .326 | .807 | 12 | 10 |
| Billy Butler DH | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .236 | .601 | 14 | 9 |
| Salvador Perez C | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .260 | .744 | 14 | 9 |
| Brett Hayes C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 1 | 1 |
| Alex Gordon LF | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .257 | .681 | 17 | 12 |
| Johnny Giavotella 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .472 | 15 | 11 |
| Lorenzo Cain CF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .351 | .797 | 10 | 6 |
| Mike Moustakas 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .142 | .514 | 14 | 11 |
| Alcides Escobar SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .273 | .705 | 15 | 9 |
| Team Totals | 39 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 2 | .410 | .825 | 131 | 94 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/10/2014.
SF: E Hosmer (3, off B Maurer).
SH: N Aoki (3, off B Maurer).
TB: S Perez 3; E Hosmer 3; A Gordon 3; N Aoki 2; L Cain 2; B Butler; J Giavotella; A Escobar.
GIDP: M Moustakas (3); L Cain (1); S Perez (7).
RBI: L Cain (6); E Hosmer (18); J Giavotella (2); B Butler (14).
Team LOB: 9.
With RISP: 1 for 12.
Fielding
DP: 1. J Giavotella-A Escobar-E Hosmer.
E: N Aoki (2).
Baserunning
SB: A Escobar (11, 2nd base off B Maurer/M Zunino).
| Mariners Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Saunders CF-RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .225 | .617 | 21 | 14 |
| Stefen Romero RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .215 | .604 | 13 | 9 |
| James Jones PH-CF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .455 | 1.045 | 3 | 3 |
| Robinson Cano 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .288 | .709 | 15 | 9 |
| Corey Hart DH | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .216 | .697 | 16 | 8 |
| Justin Smoak 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .246 | .720 | 13 | 8 |
| Willie Bloomquist 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .445 | 14 | 10 |
| Dustin Ackley LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .240 | .636 | 17 | 9 |
| Mike Zunino C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .750 | 11 | 7 |
| Brad Miller SS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .170 | .517 | 12 | 7 |
| Team Totals | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .161 | .429 | 135 | 84 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/10/2014.
2B: J Jones (1, off A Crow).
HBP: C Hart (6, by J Vargas).
TB: J Jones 2; M Zunino; D Ackley; R Cano; J Smoak.
GIDP: D Ackley (4).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 0 for 6.
Fielding
DP: 3. B Miller-R Cano-J Smoak 2; B Miller-J Smoak.
E: B Miller (6).
| Royals Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Vargas, W (3-1) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3.04 | 98 | 65 |
| Aaron Crow | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 19 | 11 |
| Tim Collins | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10.38 | 18 | 8 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0.00 | 135 | 84 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/10/2014.
| Mariners Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Maurer, L (1-1) | 7.1 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.20 | 97 | 71 |
| Charlie Furbush | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.55 | 20 | 13 |
| Tom Wilhelmsen | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.45 | 14 | 10 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4.00 | 131 | 94 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/10/2014.
Balks: None.
WP: T Wilhelmsen (1).
HBP: J Vargas (2; C Hart).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.
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