Kansas City Royals bullpen Collapses in Extra-Innings

The Kansas City bullpen collapsed after the Royals staged a furious 9th inning rally to tie St. Louis 2-2. The Cardinals scored 3 runs in the top of the 11th to take a 5-2 extra-innings victory over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday night.

Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright held the Royals hitless for 5 innings and scoreless through 8. Kansas City finally got to Wainwright in the top of the 9th by putting on two baserunners with a wild pitch and a single, and plated them both against St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal.

St. Louis broke the tie against Kelvin Herrera in the 11th.

The loss drops the Kansas City Royals to 3 games under .500 at 28-31. Kansas City remains 5 games behind Detroit in the A.L. Central and falls back to 5th place in the division.

On the Mound

Jason Vargas was nearly as good at Wainwright. While not dominant, the veteran lefty lasted 8.0 innings, giving up 9 hits, two walks, and two earned runs while striking out 3.  He left the game trailing 2-0, only to see his offiense rally against Wainwright in the bottom of the 9th to take him off the hook for a loss.

Mike Mariot gave the Kansas City Royals the chance to come back by pitching a scoreless 9th despite allowing a walk.

Closer Greg Holland shut down the Cardinals in the 10th with two overpowering strikeouts and a fly to right.

Kelvin Herrera lost the game by allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 1 walk. He left the game with 1 run in and runners at the corners in favor of Tim Collins. Collins hit Matt Holliday with a pitch to load the bases, and gave up a 2-run single to Allen Craig to produce the final 3-run bulge.

At the Plate

Wainright no-hit the Royals through 5 innings until Alcides Escobar singled to lead off the 6th.

Overall, the Kansas City Royals attack only managed 5 hits on the night with 3 walks, 2 runs scored with 10 strikeouts (8 by Wainwright). They did, however, have a chance to pull off a walkoff win in the 9th after tying the game with runners on 1st and 2nd and 1 out. However, Mike Moustakas struck out and Alcides Escobar lined out to SS.

Lorenzo Cain provided the clutch hit in the 9th to plate the tying run with a single off Trevor Rosenthal. Cain went 1-4, with 1 RBI.

Alcides Escobar was the only Royal to get two hits, going 2-4 with two singles.

Alex Gordon got the only extra-base hit with a double with 1 out in the 7th. Gordon finished the game 1-3, with 2 walks.

Catcher Salvador Perez got the team’s other RBI with a groundout in the 9th inning that plated Eric Hosmer.

This and That

The Royals got to Cardinal closer Trevor Rosenthal for the 2nd straight night. On Tuesday in St. Louis, Rosenthal gave up the winning run in the 9th after entering a tied game. On Wednesday, Rosenthal could not close the door for Adam Wainwright.

Wainwright looked poised to pitch a complete game until his wild pitch allowed strikeout victim Eric Hosmer to reach first base to leadoff the 9th. Hosmer eventually came around to score Kansas City’s first run. Billy Butler followed with a single to chase Wainwright.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

While Jason Vargas was outstanding, I’m giving our nod to Lorenzo Cain for his clutch single that tied the game and set up the Royals with a chance to walkoff in the 9th inning.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 3
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 2
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 5
• Alex Gordon – 6
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 5
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 4
• Omar Infante – 2
• Mike Moustakas – 3
• Alcidese Escobar – 3
• Eric Hosmer – 6
• Michael Mariot
• Casey Coleman
• Danny Valencia
• Tim Collins

The Cardinals

Adam Wainwright was impressive. Along with 5 no-hit innings, Wainwright dominated KC hitters. He only allowed 4 hits, 2 walks, left the game still up 2-0 in the 9th with 8 strikeouts. Perhaps the Cardinals might have been better served to let him finish what he started.

Matt Carpenter was the Royals kryptonite. Carpenter went 5-5, with 2 doubles, 3 singles, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, an 2 RBI’s. Carpenter’s double in the 11th broke the 2-2 tie by scoring Peter Bourjos from second with the go-ahead run.

Up Next

The Royals and Cardinals finish their 4-game season series in Kansas City Thursday night with a matchup of young phenom pitchers. The Royals will send flamethrower Yordano Ventura (2-5, 3.45 ERA) to the mound against St. Louis’ Michael Wacha (4-3, 2.45 ERA). Game time is 7:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: O Taveras (1, off J Vargas); M Carpenter 2 (16, 1 off K Herrera, 1 off J Vargas).
SH: R Grichuk (1, off J Vargas).
IBB: Y Molina (4, by J Vargas).
HBP: M Holliday (6, by T Collins).
TB: M Carpenter 7; O Taveras 2; Y Molina 2; J Jay; M Ellis; P Bourjos; A Craig.
RBI: M Carpenter 2 (20); A Craig 2 (32); M Holliday (29).
2-out RBI: M Carpenter.
Team LOB: 12.
With RISP: 5 for 15.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Ellis-J Peralta-A Craig.
Baserunning
SB: M Ellis (3, 2nd base off J Vargas/S Perez); P Bourjos (4, 2nd base off K Herrera/B Hayes).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: A Gordon (16, off A Wainwright); A Escobar (15, off A Wainwright).
SH: J Dyson (4, off A Wainwright).
TB: A Escobar 3; A Gordon 2; B Butler; L Cain.
GIDP: L Cain (4).
RBI: L Cain (21); S Perez (15).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 1 for 11.
Fielding
Outfield Assists: L Cain (M Holliday at 3rd base).
Baserunning
SB: A Escobar (16, 3rd base off A Wainwright/Y Molina).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: A Wainwright (2); M Mariot (4).
HBP: T Collins (2; M Holliday).
IBB: J Vargas (2; Y Molina).
Pickoffs: None.