Home Runs power Kansas City Royals to Sweep

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals ran their winning streak to 7 games with a 6-3 victory over the White Sox at U.S. Celluar Field on Father’s Day (Sunday). Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez hit home runs to account for 5 RBI’s in the win.

Starter James Shields fought hard without his best stuff to grind out his 8th win of the season (8-3), but he did manage to last 6.0 innings and held the White Sox to 3 earned runs—good enough for a quality start.

The win pushes the Royals to 4 games over .500 at 36-32, and keeps the Royals 1.5 games behind Detroit in the American League Central.

On the Mound

James Shields put in a workman-like day going 6.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. He worked out of trouble numerous times. The White Sox stranded 13 runners, 8 of them by Shields.

Francisley Bueno relieved Shields in the 7th and recorded two outs while allowing 1 hit.

Kelvin Herrera pitched to one hitter in the 7th recording the final out.

Wade Davis pitched a scoreless 8th despite allowing 2 walks.

Greg Holland finished off the 9th with his 20th save with a scoreless inning despite allowing a walk and a single.

At the Plate

The Royals only managed 8 hits, but did draw 6 walks.  That, combined with Hosmer and Perez hitting timely home runs, led to 6 runs.

Eric Hosmer put the Royals on the scoreboard with his 2-run bomb in the 1st inning. This majestic shot travelled 429 feet to dead center field. Hosmer went 1-5 on the day, with 1 run scored and 2 RBI’s.

In the top of the 3rd, Salvador Perez followed a hit by pitch to Butler and a walk to Gordon with another long home run. Perez’s bomb to left went 409 feet over the left-field wall. Perez went 2-3 with a single, his 7th home run, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI’s on the day.

This and That

It was Father’s Day Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field, and proud Royals Dads got to watch their sons earn a big-league win—which has to be a dream for any Dad.

Adam Eaton opened the game for the White Sox with a bad hop triple that skipped past 1st baseman Eric Hosmer into the left-field corner. James Shields immediately tried to pick off Eaton from 3rd base but was called for a balk by the home plate umpire, allowing Eaton to score. Shields was not at all happy with the call, only to be interrupted by Royals Manager Ned Yost who came out to protest. Yost ended up getting tossed for the 3rd time this season.

Good job by Yost getting himself run from the game to prevent an upset James Shields from getting sent to the showers after only one hitter. Better to get sent back to the clubhouse than have your ace starter tossed in the 1st inning.

Alcides Escobar went hitless to break his 12-game hitting streak.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

I considered recognizing Ned Yost for his clever move to protect Shields, but went with Salvador Perez and his timely 3-run bomb. Perez has shown increased patience at the plate this season, which has allowed him to drive the ball more often.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 3
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 4
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 5
• Alex Gordon – 8
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 6
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 4
• Omar Infante – 2
• Mike Moustakas – 4
• Alcides Escobar – 4
• Eric Hosmer – 7
• Michael Mariot
• Casey Coleman

The White Sox

Adam Eaton continued to be a pest from the top of the Chicago lineup. Eaton went 3-4 on the day, with a triple, 2 singles, 1 walk, 1 run scored on the day. The only time the Royals got Eaton out was when James Shields struck him out in the 3rd inning.

Up Next

The Royals head to Detroit for what shapes up to be an early-season showdown in Detroit. The four-game series will pit the Royals against the A.L. Central leading Tigers, who have won the division the past 3 years. The Royals will send Jason Vargas (6-2, 3.30 ERA) to the mound against struggling Tiger ace Justin Verlander (6-6, 4.61). Game time is 6:08 PM CST at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Box

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

HR: E Hosmer (4, off A Rienzo, 1st inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep CF); S Perez (7, off A Rienzo, 3rd inn, 2 on, 2 outs to Deep LF-CF).
HBP: B Butler (1, by A Rienzo).
TB: S Perez 5; E Hosmer 4; J Dyson 2; B Butler; O Infante; M Moustakas.
GIDP: A Escobar (4); O Infante (3).
RBI: S Perez 3 (23); E Hosmer 2 (34); J Dyson (6).
2-out RBI: S Perez 3.
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 2 for 3.
Baserunning
CS: L Cain (1, 2nd base by Z Putnam/A Nieto).

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

2B: J Abreu (15, off J Shields); G Beckham (12, off J Shields); A De Aza (9, off J Shields); C Gillaspie (16, off J Shields).
3B: A Eaton (4, off J Shields).
TB: A Eaton 5; J Abreu 3; A De Aza 2; C Gillaspie 2; G Beckham 2; A Ramirez 2; A Dunn; A Nieto.
RBI: A De Aza 2 (23).
Team LOB: 13.
With RISP: 2 for 14.
Fielding
DP: 2. G Beckham-A Ramirez-J Abreu 2.

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

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

Balks: J Shields (1).
WP: G Holland (6).
HBP: A Rienzo (4; B Butler).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.