Scott Downs Collapses in 11th in Royals Loss
By John Viril

Jul 27, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher
Scott Downs(37) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Indians during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Scott Downs collapsed to allow 2 runs in the 11th inning in the Kansas City Royals 3-2 loss to the Indians at Kauffman Stadium Saturday night.
The Royals stranded 16 runners in the game, scoring only 2 runs despite 9 hits and 9 walks.
The loss drops the Royals to 13 games over .500 at 74-61. The loss combined with Detroit split of a doubleheader with Chicago leaves the two teams tied atop the AL Central with Cleveland 3.5 games back.
On the Mound
James Shields went 7.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run with 4 strikeouts. Shields left the game trailing 1-0.
Wade Davis entered in the 8th, and struck out the side in a clean inning.
Greg Holland pitched a clean 9th with one strikeout.
Kelvin Herrera held the Indians scoreless in the 10th, allowing 1 hit and notching 2 strikeouts.
Scott Downs pitched the 11th and gave up a leadoff triple and single that put the Indians ahead 2-1. Overall, Downs allowed 2 runs without recording an out.
Jason Frasor relieved Downs and Michael Brantley promptly stole 2nd and went to 3rd on Salvador Perez‘s throwing error. Frasor allowed a hit that let the inherited baserunner to score.
At the Plate
The Royals did not score a run until the 8th, with Gordon starting off the inning with a walk, an error, and a walk to Erik Kratz, before Lorenzo Cain‘s grounder to short allowed Gordon to score when Cain beat the double-play relay throw to first to tie the score at 1-1.
Erik Kratz struck out to end the game with the tying run at second base. Kratz engaged in a long, 9 pitch battle in which he pulled two balls just foul that would have been game-winning home runs had they stayed fair.
This and That
The Royals and indians donned 1974 throwback uniforms on Saturday, with many players even wearing stirrups and tops without last names on the back.
Omar Infante returned to action after missing 3 games with a sore shoulder.
The Royals failed to score a run in 16 innings before tying the game with a run in the 8th.
Wade Davis ran his scoreless streak to 25.2 innings without allowing a run. Davis has yet to give up a home run yet this season.
The Royals stranded 16 runners in the game, including a bases loaded situation with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th in which KC failed to score.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
James Shields gets our nod for his 7 innings of work while allowing only 1 earned run.
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- Liam Hendriks
- Josh Willingham – 2
- 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 – 6
- Salvador Perez – 6
- Jeremy Guthrie – 4
- Jason Vargas – 8
- Alex Gordon – 13
- Bruce Chen – 5
- James Shields – 10
- Yordano Ventura – 6
- Danny Duffy – 7
- Omar Infante – 5
- Mike Moustakas – 10
- Alcides Escobar – 7
- Eric Hosmer – 12
- Michael Mariot
- Erik Kratz
The Indians
Jose Ramirez hit the key triple in the 11th that led to Cleveland’s 2 run inning that won the game. Overall, Ramirez went 1 for 4 with the triple, 1 walk, and 1 run scored.
Up Next
The Royals and Indians finish their series on Sunday night. Danny Duffy (8-11, 2.47 ERA) will pitch for the Royals, while T.J. House (2-3, 4.18 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland. Game time is 7:00 PM CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.