Greg Holland’s Late Collapse Dooms Royals

Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Holland gave up two runs in the top of the 9th after the Royals rallied from a 5-run deficit in the middle of the game. Holland’s rare failure allowed the Seattle Mariners to take a 7-5 victory Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Holland wasted a furious mid-inning rally that included home runs from Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas that gave life to the sold-out crowd at Kauffman Stadium, who had fallen mostly silent after watching the Mariners beat up James Shields for 5 runs through 5 innings.

Shields gutted out two more innings, and the Royals loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 8th, but failed to score before Brad Miller hit a solo home run just inside the right field foul pole to break the tie. After the home run, Holland got two straight outs before allowing a single, two walks and another single to plate a 2nd run.

The loss drops Kansas City to 39-34. The Royals fall to second place, .5 behind Detroit in the American League Central.

On the Mound

James Shields had another rough start. Shields has scuffled in 5 of his last 6 outings, with a 2-0 record despite a 5.56 ERA during that span. Tonight, Shields went 7.0 innings, giving up 9 hits, 4 walks, 2 home runs, and 5 earned runs with only 4 strikeouts. I hope nothing is wrong with Shields.

Wade Davis was his usual, dominating self in the 8th. Davis pitched yet another scoreless inning with 2 strikeouts, despite allowing a walk.

Greg Holland imploded in the 9th to take the loss, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks and 2 runs.

At the Plate

After Mariner starter Hisashi Iwakuma held the Royals scoreless through 5 innings, Kansas City hitters stormed back in the 5th and 6th innings to tie the game powered by home runs from Perez and Moustakas. Overall, the Royals smacked 14 hits and drew 2 walks.

Sal Perez went 2-4 with 1 run scored, and 2 RBI’s.

Mike Moustakas only had the home run in 4 ABs, but did drive in 2 RBI’s because his dinger came with Lorenzo Cain on base. Moustakas did fail to drive in a run with the bases loaded in the 8th and one out by hitting a pop fly to short right field.

Billy Butler went 3-4, with 3 singles and 1 run scored.

Both Eric Hosmer and Jarrod Dyson went 2-5 with two harmless singles.

This and That

Hisashi Iwakuma had gone 20 career innings against the Royals without allowing a run until they hung 5 on him in the 5th and 6th innings.

Wade Davis has gone 22 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He might be the most dominant set-up man in the league right now. His ERA is a ludicrous 1.11.

Jarrod Dyson nailed Robinson Cano at home plate in the 9th to prevent the Mariners from plating a 3rd run against Greg Holland. James Jones scored on the play.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Our nod goes to Salvador Perez. First, he broke through againt Iwakuma with a solo home run that traveled 400 feet over the left-field wall. He also drove in the 1st run in the 2-run 6th inning rally that tied the game at 5-5.

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

The Mariners

Kansas City native Logan Morrison wore out the hometown team going 2-5 with a single, a 2-run home run (2), 1 run scored, and 3 RBI’s. Morrison also singled with the bases loaded in the 9th with 2 outs vs. Greg Holland.

Up Next

The Royals and Mariners play the 2nd game of their 3-game set Saturday afternoon. Kansas City will send Jason Vargas (7-2, 3.25 ERA) to the mound againt Chris Young (6-4, 3.40 ERA) for Seattle. Game time is 1:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

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

2B: E Chavez (5, off J Shields); R Cano (16, off J Shields).
HR: M Zunino (8, off J Shields, 4th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep LF); L Morrison (2, off J Shields, 5th inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep RF); B Miller (6, off G Holland, 9th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep RF Line).
SH: J Jones (3, off J Shields).
TB: B Miller 5; L Morrison 5; M Zunino 4; E Chavez 3; J Jones 3; R Cano 3.
GIDP: J Jones (1).
RBI: L Morrison 3 (5); R Cano 2 (42); B Miller (19); M Zunino (23).
2-out RBI: L Morrison 3; M Zunino.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 4 for 6.
Fielding
DP: 1. H Iwakuma-R Cano-L Morrison.
Baserunning
SB: J Jones (12, 2nd base off J Shields/S Perez).

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

2B: L Cain (11, off H Iwakuma).
HR: S Perez (8, off H Iwakuma, 5th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep LF Line); M Moustakas (8, off H Iwakuma, 5th inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep RF).
IBB: L Cain (2, by D Farquhar).
TB: S Perez 5; M Moustakas 4; B Butler 3; E Hosmer 2; L Cain 2; J Dyson 2; A Gordon 2; A Escobar.
GIDP: B Butler (9).
RBI: S Perez 2 (26); M Moustakas 2 (28); L Cain (30).
Team LOB: 9.
With RISP: 2 for 10.
Fielding
DP: 1. O Infante-A Escobar-E Hosmer.
Outfield Assists: J Dyson (R Cano at home plate).
Baserunning
CS: J Dyson (4, 2nd base by H Iwakuma/M Zunino).

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

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/21/2014.

Balks: None.
WP: J Shields (4).
HBP: None.
IBB: D Farquhar (1; L Cain).
Pickoffs: None.