Royals offense fails Yordano Ventura in Loss
By John Viril
Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
For the second straight start, Yordano Ventura pitched well enough to earn a victory but instead was saddled with a loss. Ventura went 6.1 innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 runs and striking out 9. His only mistake came in the top of the 4th inning when he allowed a two-run home run to Oriole DH Nelson Cruz, which led to Baltimore’s 2-1 victory Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen, and 4 relievers, made the two runs stand up. Chen surrendered the only Kansas City run on Danny Valencia‘s double in the bottom of the 4th.
The loss dropped the Royals to 20-20 on the season, and 6 games behind Detroit in the Central.
On the Mound
Yordano Ventura took the loss to run his record to 2-3, with a 2.40 ERA on the season. His nine strikeouts showed his dominance over the Orioles—aside from his mistake to Nelson Cruz.
Tim Collins relieved Ventura in the 7th, and finished off the inning by allowing 1 hit, no runs, and striking out one.
Louis Coleman opened the 8th, but failed to retire a hitter after giving up two singles.
Kelvin Herrera bailed Coleman out without allowing a run, while striking out two.
Aaron Crow pitched a clean 9th inning, extending his streak of innings without allowing an earned run to 17.0.
At the Plate
As a team, the Royals only managed 7 hits, one walk, and the single run. Valencia’s double was their only extra-base hit.
Alex Gordon was the only Royals player with more than one hit, going 2-4 with two harmless singles.
Valencia went 1-3 on the day, with the one double, and one RBI.
C Salvador Perez went 1-3 with 1 walk. He was the only Royal besides Gordon to get on base twice.
This and That
Alex Gordon nailed J.J Hardy at home plate on Nick Markakis‘ single in the top of the 7th inning to keep the Royals within one run. Even after leading all of major-league baseball in outfield assists over the last three seasons, teams still give Gordon chances to throw them out on the basepaths. Gordon has nailed 4 runners trying to advance this season.
Yordano Ventura lost his 2nd straight start in which the Royals offense has only supported him with a single run.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
I considered Yordano Ventura for his quality start and 9 strikeouts, but decided on Alex Gordon for his two hits and outfield assist that kept the team in the game.
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- Billy Butler – 2
- Johnny Giavotella
- Wade Davis
- Norichika Aoki
- Salvador Perez – 2
- Jeremy Guthrie
- Jason Vargas – 4
- Alex Gordon – 4
- 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 Orioles
Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen baffled Royals hitters for his second win against them this season. Chen went 7.0 IP while allowing 2 earned runs in a 3-2 Baltimore win at Camden Yards on April 26 before Thursday’s victory (in only 5.1 IP).
Nelson Cruz’s 4th inning blast was his 12th HR of the season. Cruz went 1-4 on the day with the home run, 1 run scored, and 2 RBI’s.
Nick Markakis went 3-4 with 3 singles, but failed to drive in a run due to Gordon’s outfield assist that ended the 7th.
Up Next
The Royals and Orioles play the 2nd game of their 4-game series Friday night. The Royals send Jeremy Guthrie (2-2, 4.80 ERA) to the mound against Baltimore’s Chris Tillman (3-2, 3.97 ERA). Gametime is 7:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium.
Box
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .302 | .745 | 19 | 12 |
| Manny Machado 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .521 | 21 | 13 |
| Adam Jones CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .280 | .716 | 16 | 12 |
| Chris Davis 1B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .234 | .708 | 22 | 12 |
| Nelson Cruz DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .275 | .905 | 14 | 10 |
| Steve Clevenger C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .278 | .791 | 12 | 10 |
| J.J. Hardy SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .263 | .602 | 17 | 11 |
| Ryan Flaherty 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .205 | .535 | 12 | 9 |
| David Lough LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .167 | .453 | 14 | 10 |
| Team Totals | 35 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 13 | .286 | .706 | 147 | 99 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: J Hardy (7, off Y Ventura).
HR: N Cruz (12, off Y Ventura, 4th inn, 1 on, 0 outs to Deep CF-RF).
TB: N Cruz 4; J Hardy 3; N Markakis 3; M Machado 2; R Flaherty; A Jones.
GIDP: A Jones (2).
RBI: N Cruz 2 (35).
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 1 for 9.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Machado-R Flaherty-C Davis.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nori Aoki RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .260 | .630 |
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .302 | .754 |
| Billy Butler DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .232 | .587 |
| Salvador Perez C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .277 | .784 |
| Alex Gordon LF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .261 | .683 |
| Danny Valencia 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .283 | .711 |
| Johnny Giavotella 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .542 |
| Lorenzo Cain CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .319 | .770 |
| Alcides Escobar SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .285 | .744 |
| Team Totals | 32 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .219 | .485 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
2B: D Valencia (2, off W Chen).
SF: D Valencia (1, off W Chen).
TB: A Gordon 2; D Valencia 2; S Perez; E Hosmer; L Cain; A Escobar.
GIDP: A Escobar (2).
RBI: D Valencia (4).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 1 for 5.
Fielding
DP: 1. A Escobar-J Giavotella-E Hosmer.
Outfield Assists: A Gordon (J Hardy at home plate).
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wei-Yin Chen, W (5-2) | 5.1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.69 | 95 | 61 |
| Darren O’Day, H (5) | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.54 | 20 | 17 |
| Troy Patton, H (1) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.80 | 4 | 3 |
| Ryan Webb, H (5) | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.78 | 11 | 8 |
| Zach Britton, S (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.81 | 12 | 7 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.00 | 142 | 96 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA | Pit | Str |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yordano Ventura, L (2-3) | 6.1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 2.40 | 104 | 70 |
| Tim Collins | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7.94 | 10 | 7 |
| Louis Coleman | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.56 | 12 | 7 |
| Kelvin Herrera | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.40 | 11 | 8 |
| Aaron Crow | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 10 | 7 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 2.00 | 147 | 99 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
L Coleman faced 2 batters in the 8th inning.
Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.