Wade Davis’ Gaffe Sends Royals to Loss

Reliever Wade Davis hit light-hitting Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis with the bases loaded in the 8th to force home the winning run in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss against Los Angeles at Kauffman Stadium.

The rare failure broke up a 4-4 tie game that had seen the Royals come back from 3-1 and 4-2 deficits.

The loss is the Royals 6th since the end of their 10-game winning streak, against only one win.

The Royals are now a mere two games over .500 at 40-38. They remain in second place, now 4 games behind division-leader Detroit in the American League Central.

On the Mound

James Shields continues to struggle after his outstanding first month. Shields went 7.0 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 earned runs with only 2 strikeouts. Four of the Dodgers’ 7 hits went for extra bases: 1 homre run, 2 triples, and 1 double. While he’s eating up innings, Shields has not pitched like an “ace” for the last two months.

Wade Davis had a rare rough outing. He broke his string of 23.0 consecutive scoreless innings by hitting .208 hitter A.J Ellis to force home with winning run. Davis gave up 2 singles, 1 walk, 1 hit batsman and 1 earned run. It was only his 2nd loss of the season (5-2).

Francisley Bueno pitched a scoreless 9th despite giving up a hit.

At the Plate

The Royals just aren’t getting it done at the dish since their winning streak ended. In the 7 games since, the Royals have scored 17 runs, which is a paltry 2.8 runs per game. On Wednesday, the Royals did manage 8 hits, 3 walks, and 4 earned runs with 2 home runs, but it wasn’t enough to offset a pedestrian performance by Shields and Davis’ gaffe.

Lorenzo Cain began the game with a leadoff home run, going 2-5 on the day, with a home run (3), single, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Cain is hitting a solid .310 this season. Cain also hit a scorching line drive down the first base line with one out in the bottom of the 9th, but Dodger 1st baseman Scott Van Slyke speared the line drive that looked like it would go for extra bases and doubled Pedro Ciriaco off second to end the game.

Jarrod Dyson hit a solo homer in the 5th that pulled the Royals within 1 run at 4-3. He went 1-4 on the day.

Mike Moustakas contributed 2 singles, going 2-3, with an RBI.

Eric Hosmer didn’t get a hit, but did draw 2 walks. He went 0-2, with 2 walks and 1 strikeout. Though impressive in the field, Hosmer continues to disappoint at the plate in what is shaping up as a reversion to his awful 2012 season.

This and That 

The Royals continue to scuffle at home, falling to 18-20 at Kauffman this season.

Despite giving a runs for the first time in 23.0 innings, Wade Davis is still the only pitcher with more than 30 innings pitched to not give up an extra-base hit this season.

Despite giving up 4 runs, James Shields again got some great play from his defense. Moustakas made a diving stop in the 1st inning. Dyson made a nice running catch ranging far toward left to catch a gapper that would have gone for extra bases, then rushed in to spear a dying liner in the 4th. Eric Hosmer also robbed Adrian Gonzalez of extra bases with a runner on 2nd in the 4rh with a diving stop at 1st.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Our nod goes to Jarrod Dyson for his solo home run and his outstanding play in centerfield. The game would not have been within reach at the end without Dyson’s bat and glove.

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

The Dodgers

Dee Gordon, son of former Royal Tom Gordon, had a big night. He went 4-5, with a triple, 2 runs scored, and a stolen base. He scored a run in the 3rd when he enticed James Shields into a balk.

Former Royals Jamey Wright also played a key role, providing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, giving up 2 hits and striking out 4.

Up Next

The Royals finish up what has turned out to be an awful homestand with a 3-game set against the Angels. The Royals will send dependable Jason Vargas (7-3, 3.16) to the mound against Matt Shoemaker (5-1, 3.42 ERA) for Los Angeles. Game time is 6:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

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

2B: Y Puig (19, off J Shields).
3B: D Gordon (9, off J Shields); Y Puig (4, off J Shields).
HR: M Kemp (8, off J Shields, 2nd inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep CF-RF).
SF: A Gonzalez (5, off J Shields).
HBP: S Van Slyke (3, by J Shields); A Ellis (2, by W Davis).
TB: D Gordon 6; Y Puig 5; M Kemp 4; A Gonzalez; S Van Slyke; A Ethier.
GIDP: A Gonzalez (7).
RBI: Y Puig (45); M Kemp (29); A Ellis (3); A Gonzalez (48).
2-out RBI: A Ellis.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 1 for 5.
Fielding
DP: 2. M Rojas-D Gordon-S Van Slyke; S Van Slyke-M Rojas.
E: D Gordon (8).
Baserunning
SB: D Gordon (40, 2nd base off J Shields/B Hayes).
CS: D Gordon (7, 3rd base by J Shields/B Hayes).

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

HR: L Cain (3, off D Haren, 1st inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF); J Dyson (1, off D Haren, 5th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep RF).
TB: L Cain 5; J Dyson 4; M Moustakas 2; D Valencia; B Butler; O Infante.
GIDP: L Cain (6).
RBI: B Butler (33); J Dyson (10); L Cain (32); M Moustakas (29).
2-out RBI: M Moustakas.
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 1 for 9.
Fielding
DP: 1. O Infante-A Escobar-E Hosmer.
E: A Escobar (7).
Baserunning
SB: A Gordon (6, 2nd base off D Haren/A Ellis); L Cain (7, 2nd base off D Haren/A Ellis); O Infante (3, 2nd base off B League/A Ellis); P Ciriaco (4, 2nd base off B Wilson/A Ellis).

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

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

Balks: J Shields (2).
WP: J Wright (2).
HBP: W Davis (3; A Ellis); J Shields (7; S Van Slyke).
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.