Mike Moustakas’ hard Slide earns Win for KC Royals

Mike Moustakas scored on Nori Aoki‘s 9th inning single after jarring the ball lose from White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory over the White Sox in Chicago Wednesday afternoon.

Moustakas led off the inning with a single, advanced on Alcides Escobar‘s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Aoki’s 1-out single.

The victory returns the Royals to even at .500 (50-50). Kansas City pulled to within 7 games of Detroit, and .5 game behind Cleveland, in the American League Central.

On the Mound

James Shields pitched an outstanding 7 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run with 7 strikeouts. He allowed his only run in the 1st inning after Jose Abreu doubled and Adam Dunn singled.

Wade Davis pitched a clean 8th inning with 1 strikeout. He earned his 6th win of the season (6-2) after the Royals scored in the top of the 9th.

Greg Holland earned his 26th save with a clean 9th inning with 2 strikeouts.

At the Plate

Overall, the Royals piled up 10 hits and 5 walks while managing to score only 2 runs. The White Sox helped frustrate the Royals with 4 double plays.

Eric Hosmer got the only RBI on his sacrifice fly in the 1st inning to deep center. However, Hosmer went 0-2 on the day to break his 16-game hitting streak in his return to the lineup after missing two games to injury.

Lorenzo Cain opened the game with a ground rule double, advanced on Omar Infante‘s bunt, and scored on Hosmer’s sacrifice fly.

Alex Gordon went 3-3 with 3 singles and 1 walk, but did not manage to either score, or drive in, a run.

Nori Aoki hit the single that scored Moustakas, but did not get credit for an RBI due to Tyler Flowers’ error. Aoki went 2-3 with 1 walk on the day.

This and That

Eric Hosmer’s career-long hitting streak ended at 16 games. Not only did Hosmer lose his hitting streak, he also aggravated his injured hand and withdrew from the game. His status is listed as day-to-day.

Moustakas’ foot appeared to hit the webbing of Flowers’ glove on his slide, which popped the ball loose to give the Royals the win.

Both Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain stole 2nd in the game. It was Dyson’s 19th and Cain’s 13th on the season.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

I have to go with Mike Moustakas for his aggressive base-running and hard slide into home plate that squeezed out the Royals win.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Francisley Bueno
• Danny Valencia
• Christian Colon
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 6
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 6
• Jeremy Guthrie  –
• Jason Vargas – 6
• Alex Gordon – 10
• Bruce Chen7
• James Shields – 8
• Yordano Ventura – 4
• Danny Duffy – 7
• Omar Infante – 4
• Mike Moustakas – 8
• Alcides Escobar – 5
• Eric Hosmer – 12
• Michael Mariot

The White Sox

Jose Quintana lasted 7 innings for the White Sox, allowing 7 hits, 2 walks, and 1 earned run with 3 strikeouts. Quintana is 0-5 in his career vs. the Royals and racked up his 36th no decision since 2012, which is the most for any pitcher in the major-leagues.

Up Next

The Royals head to home to take on the Indians. Kansas City will open the series by sending Danny Duffy (5-10, 2.66 ERA) to the mound against Corey Kluber (10-6, 2.95 ERA) in what promises to be a low-scoring matchup. Game time is 7:10 PM CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

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

2B: L Cain (18, off J Quintana).
SF: E Hosmer (6, off J Quintana).
SH: O Infante (3, off J Quintana); A Escobar (6, off Z Putnam).
IBB: A Gordon (3, by R Belisario); O Infante (1, by Z Putnam).
HBP: B Butler (2, by R Belisario).
TB: A Gordon 3; S Perez 2; N Aoki 2; L Cain 2; O Infante; M Moustakas.
GIDP: D Valencia 2 (4); L Cain (8); B Butler (17).
RBI: E Hosmer (45).
Team LOB: 10.
With RISP: 1 for 6.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Moustakas-O Infante-E Hosmer.
E: O Infante (5).
Baserunning
SB: L Cain (13, 2nd base off Z Putnam/T Flowers); J Dyson (19, 3rd base off Z Putnam/T Flowers).

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

2B: J Abreu (23, off J Shields); M Sierra (5, off J Shields).
TB: M Sierra 2; T Flowers 2; J Abreu 2; A Dunn; A Ramirez.
GIDP: G Beckham (11).
RBI: A Dunn (41).
2-out RBI: A Dunn.
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 1 for 2.
Fielding
DP: 4. C Gillaspie-G Beckham-J Abreu 2; J Quintana-G Beckham-J Abreu; G Beckham-A Ramirez-J Abreu.
E: T Flowers (5).
Outfield Assists: A Eaton (M Moustakas at home plate).
Baserunning
Pickoffs: A Ramirez (1st base by J Shields).

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

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

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: R Belisario (4; B Butler).
IBB: R Belisario (5; A Gordon); Z Putnam (1; O Infante).
Pickoffs: J Shields (3; A Ramirez, 1st base).