Craig Kimbrel came on in the 10th inning of a 0-0 tie game and allowed five singles en route to giving up five runs in a 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. Ildemaro Vargas snuck a bunt under Kimbrel’s dive, and then a sacrifice fly scored the first run of the game for either team. From there it went off the rails, as Kimbrel gave up single after single and the runs poured in. Five, in total. It wasn’t all on Kimbrel – Rave flubbed fielding a ball in right field – but the damage was done.
The game wasn’t
over yet. The Royals offense finally woke up in the bottom half of the 10th and valiantly tried to pick Kimbrel up. Kyle Isbel walked to lead off the inning. Carter Jensen hit a double to give the Royals their first run of the game. Witt was hit by a pitch to load the bases, bringing up The Captain. Perez doubled to bring all three runners in. Michael Massey hit a long fly ball to move pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert to third base, which meant the tying run was on third with two outs and Nick Loftin up to bat. Loftin unfortunately challenged the wrong pitch in his plate appearance, letting a questionable first pitch strike call go by and using the last challenge later on a more obvious strike call. Unfortunately, he seemed to be fishing for the walk and let two close pitches go by in a clutch situation. He was called out on strikes to end the game.
It was an absolute shame because Noah Cameron turned in a brilliant performance. He was mixing his pitches well, keeping the D-Backs completely guessing nearly every plate appearance. He induced some really bad swings, like guys swinging out of their shoes, and some bad knee-buckling takes too. Cameron struck out the side in the third; he did not walk anyone until the fourth inning. He already had five strikeouts by that time.
He gave up his second walk in the sixth inning, a leadoff walk, but no damage done. He completed six full innings and gave up only three hits. He allowed zero runs, walked two guys, and struck out seven. He allowed only two batted balls above 100mph in exit velocity. He allowed zero runners to reach second base! Nate Pearson pitched two dominant innings of relief after him.
In a goofy coincidence, both teams had unassisted double plays in which the corner defender caught a line drive and tagged the base to force out the baserunner. For the Royals, it happened in a crucial situation – with no outs and runners on the corners in the ninth, Nick Loftin caught a liner from Nolan Arenado and dove to the bag to tag it with his glove to force out Ketel Marte. Going from first/third no outs to runner on first with two outs in the ninth…that was a relief (at the time). Steven Cruz struck out pinch-hitter Corbin Carroll to escape the ninth without giving up a run.
But Kimbrel couldn’t hold the tie.
Ideally, the team wouldn’t even be in a 0-0 situation like that in a bullpen game. The Royals mounted a couple scoring threats in regular time but couldn’t cross the plate. In the fourth, a walk and a single put men on first and second, but Michael Massey struck out to end the threat. In the fifth, John Rave doubled with one out. Matthew Lugo singled on a ground ball between the third baseman and shortstop, which meant Rave had to hold until the ball went through. Rave made it to third but no further. Kyle Isbel tried a squeeze bunt, but he hit it in the air and too far so that Ildemaro Vargas could slide and catch the bunt for an out. Carter Jensen walked to load the bases for Bobby Witt Jr. Witt put a fly ball into the right-center gap, but Tim Tawa caught it on the warning track for the third out.
The bullpen woes continue in a lost season. It’s hard to watch. This is nothing new.
There will be another game tomorrow despite the bullpen. The Royals and D-Backs will play at 6:40pm US Central.
