Mike Moustakas’ Three-run Double Powers Royals Sweep
By John Viril
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Rockies had to be happy to see struggling Mike Moustakas came to the plate in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded. Moose was hitting .149 and had faced questions from reporters all Tuesday afternoon about being sent down to AAA Omaha. Instead, Moustakas slammed a 3-run double that provided just enough offense to finish off Colorado in a 3-2 Kansas City win Wednesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
Starter Jason Vargas made the 3-run bulge hold up. He pitched 6.2 strong innings, giving up 5 hits, 0 walks, and 2 earned runs with a season-high 8 strikeouts. Louis Coleman, Kelvin Herrera, and Greg Holland slammed the door, with Holland notching his 10th save.
The victory completed Kansas City’s 2-game sweep of the Rockies. Royals pitching held the powerful Colorado lineup to 3 earned runs, and one home run, in 18 innings.
The Royals are now 20-19 and remain 5.5 games behind Detroit in the Central.
On the Mound
Jason Vargas dominated the Rockies for 6.2 inning with 8 strikeouts, until Drew Stubbs slammed a two-run home run to chase Vargas from the game. The Royals hung on to give Vargas his 4th win of the season vs. 1 defeat and a fine 3.00 ERA.
Louis Coleman pitched to one batter to close out the 7th inning. It’s his 3rd straight effective appearance after struggling most of the season.
Kelvin Herrera pitched a clean 8th inning with two strikeouts. Between him, Wade Davis and Aaron Crow, the Royals are well stocked with set-up men.
Greg Holland wobbled in the 9th, giving up a single and a walk before closing the door on the Rockies by striking out Drew Stubbs with the tying run on 2nd base.
At the Plate
Moose is the offensive story of the game. Along with his 3 RBI double in the 2nd, Moose also smacked another double to go 2-3 and driving in all 3 of Kansas City’s runs on the day.
The only other Kansas City player with more than one hit was C Salvador Perez who went 2-3 with two singles, 1 walk, and 1 run scored.
Alcides Escobar stroked the only other extra-base hit with a double while going 1-3 on the day. An Escobar that is hitting .284/.336/.410 is an outstanding player when combined with his highlight-reel defense.
Overall, the Royals finished the day with 8 hits and two walks.
This and That
On Tuesday night, Royals TV announcer Rex Hudler claimed that the moon was a planet. None of us should be surprised at his confusion, since it’s pretty clear from listening to him that his head is in outer space.
Mike Moustakas twigged reporters after the game for their questions about AAA the previous day by refusing to talk about his game-winning hit. Instead, he focused on Jason Vargas’ gem and the play of his teammates.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
This one is easy, 3B Mike Moustakas drove in all three of Kansas City’s runs with one swing of the bat a day after rumors swirled about his impending demotion to AAA. Take that media naysayers. He’s our KC Kingdom Player of the Game.
Maybe reporters need to keep asking him about AAA.
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- Billy Butler — 2
- Johnny Giavotella
- Wade Davis
- Norichika Aoki
- Salvador Perez – 2
- Jeremy Guthrie
- Jason Vargas – 4
- Alex Gordon – 3
- Bruce Chen
- James Shields – 5
- Yordano Ventura – 3
- Mike Moustakas
- Danny Duffy — 2
- Omar Infante
- Mike Moustakas – 3
- Alcides Escobar – 3
- Eric Hosmer – 4
- Michael Mariot
The Rockies
Colorado hitters had a rough weekend in Kauffman Stadium. They totaled 11 hits, 2 walks, 1 home run and two scores in 18 innings against Kansas City pitching.
Drew Stubbs’ two-out home run in the 7th was his 3rd of the season.
Colorado starters didn’t far much better against the Royals. In 11.o IP they struck out only 1 Kansas City hitter. Despite his 3rd loss against no win, Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin did manage a quality start by allowing only 3 runs in 6 innings.
Up Next
The Royals continue their 9-game homestand with a 4-game set against the Baltimore Orioles. Kansas City sends rookie-phenom Yordano Ventura (2-2, 2.34 ERA) to the mound against Baltimore’s Wei-Yin Chen (4-2, 3.95 ERA). Gametime is 7:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium.
Box
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Blackmon LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .948 |
| Brandon Barnes RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .325 | .799 |
| Troy Tulowitzki SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .391 | 1.247 |
| DJ LeMahieu 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .275 | .673 |
| Carlos Gonzalez DH | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .269 | .794 |
| Nolan Arenado 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .315 | .858 |
| Justin Morneau 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .320 | .918 |
| Drew Stubbs CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .295 | .812 |
| Michael McKenry C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .222 | .596 |
| Charlie Culberson 2B-SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .195 | .550 |
| Team Totals | 32 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 11 | .188 | .548 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/15/2014.
2B: N Arenado (15, off J Vargas).
HR: D Stubbs (3, off J Vargas, 7th inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep LF-CF).
TB: D Stubbs 4; C Gonzalez 2; N Arenado 2; B Barnes; C Culberson.
RBI: D Stubbs 2 (8).
2-out RBI: D Stubbs 2.
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 2 for 6.
Baserunning
Pickoffs: C Culberson (3rd base by S Perez).
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nori Aoki RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .267 | .646 |
| Jarrod Dyson CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .286 | .653 |
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .304 | .761 |
| Billy Butler DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .239 | .603 |
| Salvador Perez C | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .275 | .783 |
| Alex Gordon LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .255 | .675 |
| Johnny Giavotella 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .238 | .642 |
| Pedro Ciriaco 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 |
| Lorenzo Cain CF-RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .319 | .774 |
| Mike Moustakas 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .161 | .574 |
| Alcides Escobar SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .284 | .746 |
| Team Totals | 31 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .258 | .658 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/15/2014.
2B: M Moustakas 2 (7, 2 off J Chacin); A Escobar (11, off J Chacin).
TB: M Moustakas 4; S Perez 2; A Escobar 2; B Butler; J Giavotella; L Cain.
RBI: M Moustakas 3 (17).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 2 for 5.
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jhoulys Chacin, L (0-2) | 6 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4.76 | 98 | 61 |
| Rex Brothers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.18 | 10 | 6 |
| LaTroy Hawkins | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.70 | 10 | 6 |
| Team Totals | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.38 | 118 | 73 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/15/2014.
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Vargas, W (4-1) | 6.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3.00 | 103 | 65 |
| Louis Coleman, H (1) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.56 | 6 | 4 |
| Kelvin Herrera, H (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.47 | 12 | 7 |
| Greg Holland, S (10) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.40 | 17 | 10 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2.00 | 138 | 86 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/15/2014.
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.
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