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Kansas City Royals Open With Win Over Chicago

By John Viril

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The KC Royals opened the 2015 season with a 10-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on Monday afternoon.  

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The Kansas City Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the end of the 3rd inning and cruised to a 10-1 win behind six strong innings from brand-new ace Yordano Ventura and three shutout innings from the KC Royals bullpen.

Overall, the win looked like something KC Royals manager Ned Yost scripted on the plane to Kansas City during the team’s return from Surprise. Not only did Ventura give the team a strong start, the KC Royals flashed some much-needed power with home runs from Alex Rios and Mike Moustakas.

ON THE MOUND

Yordano Ventura enjoyed a strong first game as the KC Royals ace, going 6.0 innings while allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts and allowed only 1 run. Despite being unable to miss bats, he kept the White Sox off balance all day aside from Jose Abreu‘s solo home run in the 7th. Ventura notched his first win (1-0) of the season.

Kelvin Herrera came on in the 7th inning and did not allow a base runner while notching 1 strikeout.

Wade Davis followed Herrera with a clean inning in the 8th.

Ryan Madson finished off the game with a scoreless 9th.

AT THE PLATE

The KC Royals opened the scoring in the bottom of the second on a 1-out walk by Kendrys Morales, who scored on a double by Salvador Perez. Kansas City 1-0.

Kansas City struck again in the bottom of the 3rd inning on Alcides Escobar‘s leadoff double, sacrifice by Mike Moustakas, and scored on Lorenzo Cain‘s single to right. Cain stole second and advanced to third on Eric Hosmer‘s ground out, and scored on Jeff Samardzija’s wild pitch. Kansas City 3-0.

Mike Moustakas added a home run in the the bottom of the 5th off Samardzija to give the KC Royals a 4-run cushion. Alex Gordon broke open the game in the 7th with a seeing-eye infield single that drove in Escobar and Moustakas. Then Alex Rios cleared the bases with a 3-run home run to make the score 9-1.

Eric Hosmer added an RBI single in the 8th to make the score 10-1.

Alex Rios slashed 2 singles and home run, going 3-4 on the day, with 1 run scored and 3 RBI’s.

Mike Moustakas went 2 for 3 with a single, home run, sacrifice, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI.

Alcides Escobar had a good day leading off going 2 for 4, with 1 single, 1 double, 1 walk, and 3 runs scored.

THIS AND THAT

Alex Gordon caught a big break on his 2-RBI single in the 6th with a relatively tame bouncing ball that somehow scooted between Chicago second baseman Micah Johnson and first baseman Adam LaRoche.

Ned Yost made an odd choice hitting slugging third baseman Mike Moustakas no. 2 in the lineup. I suppose the idea is that Moustakas’ natural pull tendencies will help him hit behind base runners, and the spot might might him think about going the opposite way more often rather than trying to always hit for power.

Mike Mosutakas’ home run in the 4th was an unusual (for him) opposite field shot. Moose stands a great chance of defeating the shift if he can continue to hit the ball with authority to the opposite field.

The strategy prove successful on Opening Day when Moustakas advanced Lorenzo Cain to third with a bunt that allowed the speedy centerfielder to score on Samardzija’s wild pitch.

Yordano Ventura pitched to two batters in the 7th and left after suffering a cramp in his thumb.

Ryan Madson made his first major league appearance since 2011 with the Phillies by pitching in the 9th inning.

KC KINGDOM PLAYER OF THE GAME

Mike Moustakas gets our nod for his opposite-field prowess that included both a home run to left and a sacrifice bunt. Moustakas also drew a walk on the day, going 2 for 3 with a single, home run, sacrifice, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI.

Mike Moustakas – 1.

THE WHITE SOX

Jose Abreu is an easy choice by putting up Chicago’s only run with his home run off Yordano Ventura in the 7th. Abreu went 1 for 3 on the day with a home run and 1 run scored.

UP NEXT

The Kansas City Royals will send Danny Duffy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for the second game of a three-game set against Chicago on Tuesday night. Carlos Quintana (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch for the White Sox. Game time is 7:10 CST, Tuesday, April 7 at Kauffman Stadium.

Next: KC Royals Opening Day Opponent Chicago White Sox Preview

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