They say momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. So after a thrilling walkoff win last night, the Royals’ momentum took the form of a slender young man from the Dominican Republic named Yordano Ventura. How’d that work out for them?
Not Too Shabby
Ventura actually pitched pretty well. Through five innings, he gave up two hits and one walk, while striking out four. One of those hits was erased by a nifty double play. The other hit was a double leading off the fifth by Kyle Seager. Two fly balls later and Seager crossed the plate with the Mariners’ first run. But really, the first five innings were what you’d like to see from Ventura. He was at 60 pitches as he walked off the mound after the fifth, and he’d gotten there with good command and a willingness to let his defense help. Encouraging.
That Freaking Sixth Inning
As it seems too so often, the sixth inning was the one that hurt a Royals starter. And Ventura was oh so close to getting out of it. After retiring the first two hitters, he gave up a single to Seth Smith and a double to Robinson Cano. Up stepped Nelson Cruz. Ventura worked him carefully, probably a good idea with first base open. First pitch, a curve for a strike. Second pitch, a curve in the dirt that bounced away from Salvador Perez a bit. That’s what we call foreshadowing. The one fastball Ventura threw to Cruz got hit a long way down the right field line. On TV, it looked like a foul ball pretty easily. But first base umpire C.B. Bucknor called it fair and a home run. It didn’t take long for him to change his mind, declaring it a foul ball before it was even reviewed, and instant replay upheld that call. And it didn’t matter a bit, because the very next pitch was another curve ball in the dirt. This one kicked away from Perez even farther, up the first base line, and Smith headed for home. Perez tried a flip to Ventura that he couldn’t corral. As it bounced to the screen, Cano rounded third and scored ahead of Ventura’s throw, which Perez didn’t catch anyway and wasn’t even going to be in time. Just like that, Seattle had a 3-1 lead.
Iwakuma Puts Royals Bats In Iwa-Coma
Sorry. But seriously, the Royals offense looked bad again tonight. Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma had a simple game plan: throw sliders and splitters and watch the Royals flail away helplessly. It worked for the better part of seven innings. Iwakuma’s final line was 6 2/3 innings, five hits, three walks, six strikeouts, and one run allowed. That run came in the fourth, when Perez walked with two outs. Paulo Orlando followed with a single, and Cheslor Cuthbert singled sharply to left. Third base coach Mike Jirschele gambled a bit, sending Perez home, but the throw home was cut off (and Orlando was thrown out after rounding second, but not before Perez scored). That 1-0 lead didn’t last long, though.
Fireworks After The Game, Not In The Late Innings
Four Mariners relievers took it home after the weird wild pitch/error gave them the lead. Last night’s goat, Steve Cishek, picked up the save despite allowing a home run to Perez. The Royals had one more scoring chance, in the seventh when Orlando doubled and took third on a fly ball. Alcides Escobar walked, ending Iwakuma’s evening. After Escobar stole second, Jarrod Dyson hit a grounder that looked like it might find right field, but Cano made a nice play to scoop it up and get the last out of the inning.
Up Next
The Royals and Mariners face off tomorrow afternoon at 3:15 pm. Edinson Volquez will pitch for Kansas City. Wade Miley will pitch for Seattle. Oh, and Cleveland won again, meaning the Royals are now eight games out of first. If they wish to win the division, they might need to start winning some games soon.
Photo credit: John Rieger, USA Today Sports