Danny Duffy perfect through Seven Innings, Royals win 1-0
By John Viril
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The story of the game is pretty much Danny Duffy taking a perfect game into the 7th inning. Billy Butler hit a two-out single to drive in Norichika Aoki from second base after his leadoff single and stolen base in the first inning. Duffy made the single run stand up after locking up in a pitcher’s duel with Baltimore’s Bud Norris in Kansas City’s 1-0 win Saturday afternoon.
With Bruce Chen due back from the disabled list, Duffy might have just seized a role in the Royals rotation with his performance. Duffy’s problem has always been his command and he showed yet again how far he has come by allowing no walks, and only two hits, on Saturday. At this point, the Royals cannot deny Duffy’s clear talent.
The victory evens up the Royals record at 21-21 on the season, allowing Kansas City to remain 7 games behind Detroit in the Central.
On the Mound
Duffy, Duffy, and more Duffy. Danny boy looked destined for a no-hitter until Adam Jones broke up his gem in the 7th. Still, Duffy went 7.0 strong innings giving up 2 hits, 0 walks, no earned runs with 2 strikeouts. Duffy improvd his record to 2-3, wih a 1.42 ERA.
Wade Davis came on to pitch a clean 8th inning with 2 strikeouts.
Greg Holland struck out the side in the 9th, along with allowing a single, to earn his 11th save.
At the Plate
Aside from Aoki’s single, stolen base, and Butler’s two-out RBI, there really wasn’t much to tell.
Aoki finished the day 2-4 with two singles and the game’s only run. Mike Moustakas had the only other hit in a game without any extra-base hits from either team.
This and That
The game featured 7 total hits, 1 walk, and no extra base hits by both teams combined. Yet, the starting pitchers only struck out 3 batters.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
Danny Duffy is the clear choice. A two-hit shutout will pretty much get a starting pitcher the nod.
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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 – 3
- Omar Infante
- Mike Moustakas – 3
- Alcides Escobar – 3
- Eric Hosmer – 4
- Michael Mariot
- Casey Coleman
The Orioles
Bud Norris ptched 7.1 innings while allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run. Yeah, what a loser. Does any stat mean less?
Up Next
The Royals send james Shields (5-3, 2.54 ERA) against Urbaldo Jimenez (2-4, 4.02 ERA) to tie up the 4-game series against Balimore. Game time is 1:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium.
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | Nelson Cruz LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .282 | .901 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Davis 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .240 | .746 | ||||||||
| Adam Jones CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .278 | .706 | ||||||||
| Manny Machado 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .206 | .519 | ||||||||
| Nick Markakis RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .290 | .719 | ||||||||
| Jonathan Schoop 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .218 | .615 | ||||||||
| Caleb Joseph C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .091 | .182 | ||||||||
| Delmon Young DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .290 | .710 | ||||||||
| J.J. Hardy SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .256 | .585 | ||||||||
| Steve Clevenger PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .254 | .725 | ||||||||
| Team Totals | 30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .100 | .256 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/18/2014.
B: M Machado; N Cruz; A Jones.
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 0 for 2.
Fielding
E: M Machado (4).
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | Nori Aoki RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .265 | .641 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrod Dyson CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .288 | .654 | ||||||||
| Alcides Escobar SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .282 | .737 | ||||||||
| Eric Hosmer 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .294 | .732 | ||||||||
| Billy Butler DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .227 | .570 | ||||||||
| Alex Gordon LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .655 | ||||||||
| Lorenzo Cain CF-RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .311 | .758 | ||||||||
| Mike Moustakas 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .162 | .573 | ||||||||
| Johnny Giavotella 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .194 | .502 | ||||||||
| Pedro Ciriaco 2B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | ||||||||
| Brett Hayes C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | ||||||||
| Team Totals | 28 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .143 | .343 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/18/2014.
H: A Escobar (2, off B Norris).
HBP: A Escobar (2, by B Norris).
TB: N Aoki 2; B Butler; M Moustakas.
RBI: B Butler (15).
2-out RBI: B Butler.
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 1 for 8.
Baserunning
SB: N Aoki (5, 2nd base off B Norris/C Joseph); L Cain (3, 2nd base off B Norris/C Joseph).