I’m gonna be honest: I’m tired. I’m the proud, exhausted father of a 13-month old boy who has just learned to walk and screams for more food like a debauched Roman emperor. My capacity for rational thought is tapped. I called Brandon Maurer “Braden Mooney” in casual conversation with someone today. I can form two (2) thoughts at a time, but one eats the other and then passes out.
Fortunately, I can always call in some back-up. So I’m tagging out tonight and turning this over to a special guest. Ladies and gentlemen, Jedi Master Yoda.
A good evening it was for the Royals in a narrow 2-1 win against the Chicago White Sox. Though up and down and mostly down this season, to keep the White Sox at bay Brad Keller and the bullpen pieced together a quality appearance.
Yeesssssss.
Good was Keller over five innings. Successful he was in keeping the ball down; ground ball outs, seven of the 15 outs he recorded were. Able to hit in the air, only two balls the White Sox were, with only Nicky Delmonico’s second-inning home run causing a problem, albeit a fairly sizable one.
Struggle, the Royals did, for much of the first five innings against Dylan Covey. Picked off was Whit Merrifield by Covey in the first inning. Struggle too did Covey with command, issuing at least one walk in each of the first three innings. Make him pay, the Royals did not.
Trouble Keller found in the fourth. Lead off with back-to-back singles Jose Abreu and Daniel Palka did, but able to strike out Avisail Garcia and Delmonico, Keller was, before a Tim Anderson fly-out, he induced.
Yield no runs did three White Sox hits in the fifth inning. Gunned down, Adam Engel was, on a steal attempt after his one-out single, and unable to score was Yoan Moncada, who singled, on a Yolmer Sanchez double.
Broke through did the Royals in the sixth. A home run did Alex Gordon strike with one out—good, good was Gordon on this night; 1-for-2 with two walks was he. Doubled did Lucas Duda later in the inning and scored was he by Jorge Bonifacio’s single.
Exceptional the bullpen was on this night. Two-thirds of an inning did Kevin McCarthy hold Chicago scoreless, before yielding to Tim Hill. Strike out two White Sox with a runner on first in the seventh, did he.
Worried, I was, when in the eighth, enter Brandon Maurer did. Worried me more, he did, after a lead off double to Abreu he surrendered. Concerned myself, I should not, for struck out the side did he.
[bizarre Yoda laugh]
Provide, Alcides Escobar did, a valuable insurance run in the ninth. Walks did Jose Avilan issue to Jorge Bonifacio and Brett Phillips; then, singled did Escobar with two out after Juan Minaya replaced Avilan, while scored from second did Bonifacio.
Moving quickly, Bonifacio was.
Easy was Wily Peralta’s ninth inning. Flew out did Anderson. Flew out did Leury Garcia. Strike out did Omar Narvaez. Won two of their last three, the Royals have.
Unusually Happy, This Tweet of the Game
Who are you, and what did you do with Brandon Maurer? #Royals
— Ward (@KCVodkaFan) August 19, 2018
Spot that is Bright: Four innings of relief, Royals pitchers totaled. Allow a run, they did not.
Nadir, this is: 1-for-14 went the bottom four hitters for the Royals. Win many games for you, that will NOT.
Take next step, we will: 1:10 p.m. (CT) starts the series finale. Take the ball will Heath Fillmyer for Kansas City. Oppose him, Reynaldo Lopez will for the White Sox. On the line, a series victory is.