It was an interesting game at times tonight, though often not in the good interesting way for Kansas City. Regardless of the oddities, the bats just never did very much and the winning streak ends at five.
Cole Ragans exiting the game early, which was the biggest event of the game possibly in the short and long-term. When this happened against Cleveland a few weeks ago, it was very apparent why. This time it took a couple of innings to get information. In the first three innings, Ragans only gave
up 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 4 and surrendering no runs. Next thing we knew, Luinder Avila was warming up and starting the 4th. Eventually it was announced that Ragans left with “left triceps/elbow soreness”. No idea what that means going forward, but tonight it meant the bullpen had to get through 6 innings.
While that drama was unfolding, the Royals scored a run in the bottom of the third. Bobby ended up on first after a fielder’s choice and then was moved to second when Lane Thomas walked. Witt decided he would rather be on third base, but getting there required a phenomenal slide that is unfortunately not available as an embed yet or I would be showing it to you right now. Without that the Royals don’t score, but it set up a sac fly from El Capitan to take a 1-0 lead.
Avila’s first inning went fine, but he got in trouble in his second frame. Austin Hedges was walked to leadoff. You never want to walk the guy with a .562 career OPS. Halpin then singled to set up a strange set of events. Cleveland looked like they wanted Martinez to sac bunt them to 2nd and 3rd, but on the first pitch he held back and Diaz tried to backpick Hedges at second. The throw beat him to the bag though he was called safe and the Royals challenged, you can take a look for yourself here:
I get why the call was not overturned, it probably would not have been had the original call been out either. Then Hedges and Halpin stole to move up thus any need to bunt though Martinez struck out just before anyway. Avila was not holding the runners much and it cost the Royals big. Chase DeLauter took advantage with a weak single sneaking through and rolling slow enough to score them both. Avila managed to get out of the inning after that.
Shreiber took over next and got 5 outs including one at third base when Schneemann tried to stretch a double into a triple. Lange took over for the last out in the 7th. He returned in the 8th and the Guardians added their third run of the night on another leadoff walk, this time to Jose Ramirez. If you have not been paying attention, Ramirez has stolen over 40 bags each of the last two seasons, and he took one here for his 14th already this season. He moved to third on a David Fry groundout and then scored when a hard ball to third went off Garcia. Bobby did pick it up and throw the batter out, there just wasn’t any way to keep Ramirez from scoring.
There was a debut tonight. Eric Cerantola, who was called up by the Royals this afternoon, took on the ninth inning with KC behind and not wanting to tax the back of their bullpen. We had another odd, and similar, situation to the 5th. Rocchio walked to lead off and then moved to third on an Austin Hedges single. Halpin comes up and shows bunt but does not lay one down on the first or second pitch. On said second pitch Diaz threw behind Rocchio at third and again the ball beat the runner to the bag where he was called out instead of safe this time. That call was subsequently overturned on review and Rocchio remained on third. On the next pitch, Hedges tried to steal second and Diaz did throw him out. Then Cerantola recorded his first strikeout against Halpin and his second K on Angel Martinez to end the inning with no damage done.
Cade Smith came in to get the save for Cleveland. Vinnie did single to get the tying run to the plate, but that was all the Royals could muster before Smith struck out the side including a challenged ball call becoming strike three against Isaac Collins to end it. The ABS challenge to end the game is a new phenomenon and not the one Royals fans wanted to see in this situation. They will have to win tomorrow to get the series win. No extra base hits and scattered singles and walks is not a winning formula most nights.
