This game was out of control for KC very quickly. Daniel Lynch IV made his fifth start as a Royal, and the broadcast played an interview with manager Matt Quatraro who said, “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him as a starter, yet.” I’m more afraid we haven’t seen the worst; the Royals ultimately lost 9-2.
Honestly, you could blame almost any position group for this loss. Lynch was obviously bad. He allowed five runs in five innings, the first time he’s pitched that deep into a game. And perhaps
there’s something to be said of the recovery that actually saw him record 10 straight outs to finish his outing. But he also allowed 7 hits, 1 walk, and struck out no one. So.
Nolan Hoffman came on in relief for the sixth inning and immediately gave up three more runs to make sure the Royals didn’t even consider coming back in this one. He pitched a second scoreless inning, and Easton McGee had a scoreless inning but allowed a run in the ninth to finish the game off. Neither of them are considered among the Royals’ best current relievers, but both are supposed to be competing for a role in next year’s ‘pen. It isn’t going well.
The offense seemed like it might have something going in the first inning against Jameson Taillon. Carter Jensen struck out looking, but Bobby Witt Jr. smoked a home run at 106.7 MPH. Jac Caglianone lined out to second at 110 MPH. Salvador Perez lined out to third at 104.5, they were obviously seeing Taillon well. Or so it seemed. The Royals didn’t get a runner to second base again until the bottom of the eighth when Carter Jensen doubled off of old friend Michael Lorenzen. Taillon also only pitched two innings, leaving with an injury after the completion of the 1-2-3 second on nine pitches.
Vinnie tacked on a solo shot with two outs in the ninth, which probably felt good because he has slumped a little in his last six games after the hot start off the IL.
It was just a bad night for Royals’ baseball all around. Tomorrow might be better, but perhaps don’t hold your breath. Seth Lugo (5.03 ERA, 4.56 SIERA) will go for the Royals. Max Scherzer (6.16 ERA, 5.03 SIERA) will go for the Blue Jays. Scherzer’s numbers look bad, but he was absolutely fantastic his last time out against the Mariners. The game will start at 6:10 PM Central.
