Danny Duffy had it working on Wednesday. The Game Score was only 52, but he went six strong innings, striking out six while allowing seven hits. His steady start allowed the Royals to sweep the Rays out of Kansas City, and put the finishing touches on a 6-0 homestand.
Oh, and as mentioned last night, with the win they have now won 15 of their last 20. Again. That’s something else.
Let’s Talk About Danny Duffy
Opening the season in the bullpen, it seemed as though the Royals never really considered Duffy for the rotation. On the surface it made sense. He seemed comfortable cutting loose in a relief role and the results were pleasing. However, he was pushed into the rotation after injuries to Chris Young and Kris Medlen. The Royals handled Duffy with care, slowly expanding his pitch count, before unleashing the Full Duffy on their opponents.
In a small sample size, Duffy performed well. He was brilliant his last time out through five innings, before the wheels fell off in the sixth inning once the White Sox lineup turned over for a third time. Therein lay the question: Could Duffy build on his relief success to go deep into games? Innings from the rotation is something the Royals desperately need. Duffy has never been able to be counted on to manage his pitch count in a starting role. Could this go-round in the rotation be different.
The jury is still out, but the short answer appears to be positive. Duffy cruised through the first on 13 pitches, the second on eight and the third on nine. That’s right. Just 30 pitches were required to get the first nine outs. I’d refer to that as Vintage Duffy, but I’m not sure we’ve ever seen that from the Royals left-hander. Then, came the fourth. (More on that in a moment.)
Duffy threw just 75 pitches total to complete six. His velocity was still looking good late.
Maybe he could’ve gone another frame. But with the Royals holding a two run lead at the time, it was the right call to pull him. The four-seam, slider and change were all working. It was enough to keep Rays hitters off balance all evening.
Overall, Duffy has gone over 15 innings without issuing a walk. That will play.
Presented Without Comment
Danny Duffy in the fourth.
Against Steven Souza, Jr.
Against Logan Morrison
Against Desmond Jennings
Total Team Effort
The Royals plated four runs over the first two innings on the back of a pair of doubles, four singles and an error. In the later innings, they padded their lead with a couple of sacrifice flies. It seems like it’s said after every Royals victory, but this is how the offense does its thing.
As the norm during this stretch, everyone contributed to the offensive bludgeoning of the Rays. Two-Hit Whit Merrifield had another… wait for it… two hits. Lorenzo Cain had three singles. Eric Hosmer went down the third base line for a patented Hoz opposite field double. If batting average and the Mendoza Line is your thing, Kendrys Morales pushed his just to the north with a two hit night.
The Royals had 75 hits on the six game homestand with double-digit hits in each game. That, my friends, is a breakout performance from the offense. They pulled the bats from cold storage and went directly to the blast furnace.
Gunned Down At Home
Is there a better shortstop in the game better at making the relay throw to the plate than Alcides Escobar? I’ll answer that for you. No. No, there is not a better shortstop at making the relay to the plate than Escobar. This is just something the Royals do so well. From Jarrod Dyson coming up with the ball and firing a strike to Escobar, to Escobar one-hopping his throw to Drew Butera, to the catch and tag.
It’s like watching a ballet of defense.
We’re spoiled watching this team in the field. Seriously spoiled. But the Royals still can captivate with their play. A good old 7-6-2 putout will never get old.
Up Next
The Royals hit the road for a 10 game road trip. First up is Cleveland tomorrow night at 6:10 with Yordano Ventura squaring off against Carlos Carrasco.