Uninspired Kansas City Royals lose to Angels

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals lost 6-1 in an uninspired performance against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. Neither starter Danny Duffy, or the offense, were on their game as the Angels drubbed Kansas City.

Kansas City hitters only managed 5 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run against the Angel pitching. Their only extra-base hit came on a double that Norichika Aoki earned more by hustle on the basepaths than through striking the ball with authority.

Meanwhile, starter Danny Duffy gave up 5 runs in 6 inning pitched, including solo home runs to Chris Ian neta and Mike Trout.

Overall, its the kind of drab play that makes you a clear loser in the baseball game.

The loss sinks the Royals 1 game under .500 at 23-24, and 6.5 behind Detroit in the A.L. Central.

On the Mound

Danny Duffy wasn’t horrible, but he was easily hittable while giving up 9 hits, 2 walks and 5 runs. He just didn’t have his dominating stuff like in his two-hitter in his last outing. The loss drops Duffy’s record to 2-4, with an ERA of 2.59.

Louis Coleman pitched the 7th and gave up 3 hits, and one run. He was lucky to escape the inning while allowing only that single tally, because CF Lorenzo Cain reached over the centerfield fence to rob David Freese of a 3-run home run.

Aaron Crow pitched the 8th, allowing only a walk, and no earned runs.

At the Plate

Norichika Aoki was the only Royal that was effective at the plate on Friday night, going 3-4 with a stolen base, and a run scored. Aoki opened the game with a single, a stolen base, and a run scored when Alex Gordon drove him in with a two-out single.

That was pretty much the offensive story for the night. Aoki legged out a double in the top of the fifth, but was left stranded. Alex Gordon went 1-2, with 1 walk and 1 RBI.

Pedro Ciriaco collected the only other Royal hit on the night.

This and That

Lorenzo Cain made the only inspired play of the day for the Royals. Down 5-1 in the 7th, Cain raced back to snare David Freese’s drive by leaping over the centerfield wall to pull down what would have been a 3-run home run.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Norichika Aoki is the clear choice, with 3 of the Royals 5 hits, a stolen base, and a run scored. He was pretty much the only effective offensive player for the Royals on the evening.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki — 2
• Salvador Perez – 2
• Jeremy Guthrie — 2
• Jason Vargas – 4
• Alex Gordon – 5
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 5
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 3
• Omar Infante
• Mike Moustakas – 3
• Alcides Escobar – 3la
• Eric Hosmer – 5
• Michael Mariot
• Casey Coleman

The Angels

Los Angeles continued their hot streak. The Angels have now won 11 of 14, but still trail the Oakland A’s by 2.5 games in the A.L. West.

Mike Trout has yet another good game going 2-4 with a home run. Trout is probably the games best player, with solid contributions in all phases of the game. Along with his home run, he nailed Norichika Aoki attempting to advance to third on a fly ball to centerfield, which ended the 5th inning.

C.J. Wilson turned in an excellent performance despite a 33-pitch first inning in which he left the bases loaded and allowed only 1 run to score. He allowed 1 run in 6.1 innings pitched, allowing 4 hits, 4 walks, and ringing up 3 strikeouts.

Up Next

The Royals send ace James Shields (6-3, 2.67 ERA) to the mound for the 2nd game of the three-game series against the Angels. Los Angeles counters with Matt Shoemaker (2-1, 3.06 ERA).

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/24/2014.

2B: N Aoki (7, off C Wilson).
HBP: A Gordon (2, by C Wilson); N Aoki (1, by C Wilson).
TB: N Aoki 4; A Gordon; P Ciriaco.
RBI: A Gordon (25).
2-out RBI: A Gordon.
Team LOB: 10.
With RISP: 1 for 8.
Fielding
Outfield Assists: N Aoki (G Green at 3rd base).
Baserunning
SB: N Aoki (6, 2nd base off C Wilson/C Iannetta); A Gordon (2, 2nd base off C Wilson/C Iannetta).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

2B: C Cron (4, off D Duffy); G Green (3, off D Duffy).
HR: C Iannetta (4, off D Duffy, 2nd inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep LF-CF); M Trout (9, off D Duffy, 3rd inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF).
TB: M Trout 5; C Iannetta 4; C Cron 3; G Green 3; E Aybar 2; H Kendrick 2; C Cowgill.
RBI: C Iannetta (15); E Aybar (23); C Cowgill (9); M Trout (32); G Green (5); C Cron (7).
2-out RBI: C Cron; C Cowgill.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 3 for 8.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Trout-D Freese.
PB: C Iannetta (3).
E: E Aybar (3).
Outfield Assists: M Trout (N Aoki at 3rd base).
Baserunning
Pickoffs: D Freese (1st base by D Duffy).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Balks: None.
WP: K Jepsen (1).
HBP: C Wilson 2 (4; A Gordon, N Aoki).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: D Duffy (3; D Freese, 1st base).