Jason Vargas’ Three-hit Shutout Defeats A’s

The Kansas City Royals returned to their winning ways with a complete-game, 3-hit shutout from Jason Vargas. The resulting 3-0 victory over the A’s at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday night keep the Royals in 1st place.

Omar Infante slammed a 2-run, home run (6) for the Royals in the 3rd inning, picking up Nori Aoki who had singled after Christian Colon‘s line out. Salvador Perez chipped in with a sacrifice fly in 5th to make the score 3-0.

The win puts Kansas City back to 11 games over .500 at 65-54. The Royals hold a 1/2 game lead over Detroit in the A.L. Central and for the 2nd wild card.

On the Mound

Jason Vargas was the entire story, going the full 9.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, 0 walks, and 0 earned runs with 4 strikeouts. Talk about domination.

At the Plate

The Royals hung 3 earned runs on the stingy Scott Kazmir, stroking 7 hits and 2 walks on the day.

Omar Infante smacked the Royals only extra base hit with his 3rd inning home run. Infante finished the day 2 for 3, with a home run, single, 1 walk, 1 run scored, and 2 RBI’s.

Nori Aoki was the only other Royal with more than 1 hit, going 2-3 with 2 singles and 1 run scored.

Josh Willingham reached base twice going  1-2 with a single and 1 walk. Willingham has hit safely in both of his games for the Royals. Willingham also added his 2nd stolen base of the season.

This and That

This is the 2nd complete game shutout for the Royals in less than a week, after James Shields‘ gem against the Giants on Saturday. Wednesday was also the 2nd time the Royals had shut out the A’s in their 6 games this season.

The Royals pitching staff has 3 complete games this season, all of which have come in the last week. First Jeremy Guthrie defeated the Diamondbacks last Thursday, August 7. James Shields shut out the Giants on Saturday, August 11. And Vargas took care of the A’s on Wednesday, August 13.

Josh Willingham has a 4-game hitting streak, all coming against the Oakland A’s—2 with Minnesota and 2 with Kansas City.

Scott Kazmir lost to the Royals for the 2nd time in 10 days.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Jason Vargas gets the honor for his 3-hit shutout. Vargas seems fully recovered from his appendectomy last month.

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• Billy Butler – 8
• Jason Frasor
• Francisley Bueno
• Danny Valencia
• Christian Colon
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 6
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki  – 4
• Salvador Perez – 6
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 3
• Jason Vargas – 7
• Alex Gordon – 11
• Bruce Chen   – 5
• James Shields – 10
• Yordano Ventura – 5
• Danny Duffy – 7
• Omar Infante – 4
• Mike Moustakas – 9
• Alcides Escobar – 6
• Eric Hosmer – 12
• Michael Mariot

The A’s

Scott Kazmir notched a quality start, despite losing the game. Kazmir went 7.0 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. Two out of Kazmir’s 5 losses this season have come against KC in the last 10 days.

Up Next

The A’s and Royals finish their 4-game set, and the season series, Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals will send ace James Shields (11-6, 3.25 ERA) to the mound against Jeff Samardzija (5-8, 2.91 ERA) for Oakland. Game time is 1:10 PM CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas CIty.

Box

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

2B: J Donaldson (21, off J Vargas).
TB: J Donaldson 2; J Lowrie; J Gomes.
GIDP: N Freiman (1).
Team LOB: 2.
With RISP: 1 for 2.
Fielding
DP: 2. J Donaldson-A Callaspo-N Freiman; A Callaspo-J Lowrie-N Freiman.
E: C Crisp (3); S Kazmir (3).

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

HR: O Infante (6, off S Kazmir, 3rd inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep LF).
SF: S Perez (2, off S Kazmir).
SH: N Aoki (5, off S Kazmir).
TB: O Infante 5; N Aoki 2; B Butler; J Willingham; C Colon.
GIDP: A Escobar (8); S Perez (20).
RBI: O Infante 2 (53); S Perez (50).
Team LOB: 4.
With RISP: 1 for 5.
Fielding
DP: 1. C Colon-O Infante-B Butler.
Baserunning
SB: J Willingham (2, 2nd base off S Kazmir/D Norris).
Pickoffs: J Willingham (2nd base by S Kazmir).

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

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

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: S Kazmir (1; J Willingham, 2nd base).