Daily Clips
August 5, 2017
LOCAL
Royals go 'wild' before key 7th in loss to M's
August 5, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan and Greg Johns/MLB.com
Salvy exits after striking out, undergoes MRI
August 4, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Bonifacio adjusting to reduced role for Royals
August 4, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Karns feeling good after having TOS surgery
August 4, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Duffy looking to stay tough against Mariners
August 4, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Royals wobble in seventh, fall 5-2 to the Mariners
August 4, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals’ Salvador Perez aggravates right side, undergoes MRI
August 4, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
MINORS
Chasers Win 3rd Straight 4-1 in Front of 7,841
Binford tosses quality outing, Mondesi & Cuthbert go deep
August 4, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers
Gomber and Cards blank Naturals, 2-0, before 8,186 fans
August 4, 2017By Springfield Cardinals
Offense Held Silent in Loss
Wilmington's Offense Struggles Continue
August 4, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Chukars Run Past Voyagers for Second Straight
Idaho Falls Posts Season-High Eight Stolen Bases
August 5, 2017 By Shawn Tiemann/Great Falls Voyagers
Royals Drop Middle Game to Twins
Gigliotti homers in 10-5 loss at Elizabethton
August 4, 2017By Matt Krause/Burlington Royals
MLB TRANSACTIONS
August 5, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Royals go 'wild' before key 7th in loss to M's
August 5, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan and Greg Johns/MLB.com
Former Royal Jarrod Dyson looped the go-ahead RBI single to center in the seventh inning and red hot left-hander James Paxton won his seventh straight start as the Mariners rallied for a 5-2 win over the Royals on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals dropped 3 1/2 games behind the American League Central-leading Indians, while the Mariners pulled within 1 1/2 games of Kansas City for the second Wild Card spot.
Dyson, hitting just .128 this season off left-handers, singled off southpaw Ryan Buchter, scoring Guillermo Heredia, who doubled in the tying run and only started because Nelson Cruz (upper back spasm) was a late scratch.
"It feels good to contribute to this team and do it in front of my old home crowd," said Dyson, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. "I feel good up here and I am just trying to keep it rolling for this team. To do it here is really special."
Paxton's streak of 21 consecutive scoreless innings, which was the longest active streak in the Major Leagues, ended when the Royals pushed across a run in the fifth. Paxton went six innings, giving up four hits and two runs while walking one and striking out seven to record his 12th win.
"Paxton continues to be really dominant," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He has absolutely carried us, there's no doubt."
Royals catcher Salvador Perez left after the sixth inning and underwent an MRI after the game. Manager Ned Yost said the injury was to Perez's right side/rib area, which Perez had hurt earlier this season. Yost said the Royals would know more about the injury on Saturday.
Royals right-hander Jason Hammel was strong for six innings, but he weakened in the seventh -- logging 6 1/3 innings and giving up six hits and three runs while walking one and striking out three.
"I was able to make pitches when we needed them up until the seventh," Hammel said. "Obviously pretty upset to give it back in the seventh after the guys fought hard to give me one. That's frustrating."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Whit's mad dash: The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the sixth on some daring baserunning by Whit Merrifield, who opened the frame with a double off Paxton. Merrifield went to third on Lorenzo Cain's single. But Paxton, with the infield in, got a groundout and a strikeout. Then with Perez up, Paxton unloaded a wild pitch that didn't bounce far from the plate. Merrifield charged home anyway and scored when Paxton couldn't hold the throw from catcher Mike Zunino.
"With two strikes there and two outs, you got to be aggressive," Merrifield said. "You can't be scared."
Added Yost, "The way Paxton was commanding his pitches, his fastball was 94-97 [mph], good slider. He was tough. To take the lead at that point, we felt pretty good."
Killing them softly: The Mariners' three-run rally was aided by three steals and two soft singles off Buchter. After Heredia ripped an RBI double off Hammel to tie it at 2, Dyson sent a broken-bat single to center -- 71-mph exit velocity, according to Statcast™ -- to score Heredia. Dyson swiped second base as Zunino struck out. Leonys Martin then sent a flare (67 mph) that fell in front of Jorge Bonifacio to make it 4-2.
"I feel like I did my job," Buchter said. "Just some bad luck … two broken bats."
"You've got to put pressure on them every now and then," said Dyson, who had one of three steals that inning along with Kyle Seager and Heredia. "We've got to use our legs, and those were huge bags for us. We can run with the best of 'em."
"He's got a little hop in his step this weekend. We knew it would be that way and it should be that way. He's got a lot of good friends in that other dugout and he wants to play well and beat them. It was a good night for him." -- Servais, on Dyson's enjoyment of playing at Kauffman Stadium
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Mariners relievers David Phelps, Nick Vincent and Edwin Diaz finished things off with three perfect innings and Diaz notched his 22nd save, including a Major League-leading nine since the All-Star break. The 23-year-old hasn't allowed a run on the road in his past 15 2/3 innings over 15 outings since May 24, holding opponents to an .058 average (3-for-52).
CANO LOGS 500TH DOUBLE
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano became just the fifth active player with 500 doubles when he ripped a first-inning line drive into the right-field corner off Hammel. The 34-year-old Cano moved into a tie for 61st on the all-time doubles list with former Mariner John Olerud and Hall of Famer Goose Goslin, who played from 1921-38. The only other current players in the 500-double club are Albert Pujols (613), Adrian Beltre (605), Carlos Beltran (557) and Miguel Cabrera (540).
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: Ace Felix Hernandez (5-4, 4.28 ERA) gets the ball on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. PT against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The veteran right-hander is 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA in eight starts since coming off a two-month stint on the DL with bursitis in his shoulder.
Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (7-6, 3.42) will take the mound against the Mariners on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. CT. Duffy gave up one run and seven hits over seven innings in Monday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Salvy exits after striking out, undergoes MRI
August 4, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez exited Friday night's 5-2 loss to the Mariners in the seventh inning after striking out to end the sixth.
"We don't know [Perez's status] right now," manager Ned Yost said after the game. "He's over getting an MRI. We'll know more tomorrow."
Perez, who appeared to wince in pain after swinging at strike three, has dealt with tightness on either side of his rib cage this season. Perez is batting .278 with 21 home runs. He was replaced by Drew Butera.
"It's the right side, but it's a different spot," Yost said. "It's a little more concerning."
Bonifacio adjusting to reduced role for Royals
August 4, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
So far, the player affected most by the Royals' acquisition of Melky Cabrera has been outfielder Jorge Bonifacio.
Bonifacio, who had started nearly every game since he was called up on April 21, has seen his playing time drastically decrease. He made just his second start in Friday night's game against the Mariners since Cabrera was acquired from the White Sox in a trade on Sunday. Bonifacio also started on Thursday in place of center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who was resting due to a hamstring issue.
"It's kinda tough," Bonifacio said. "I try to be ready for whatever opportunity I get. I don't put it in my mind if I'm not playing today. I don't cool down."
Bonifacio hit 14 home runs entering Friday, which ranked as the fourth most among American League rookies. He had reached base in 32 of his previous 35 games. From June 18 to July 18, he had a 22-game on-base streak, which was the second longest such streak by a rookie in Royals history.
Despite the respectable offensive numbers, Bonifacio has become the odd man out. He said his approach and routine have not changed as a result. He still watches video, hits in the cage, takes batting practice and works out -- though he works out longer if he's not starting.
"I prepare every day like I'm playing," Bonifacio said.
Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar said Bonifacio has remained positive.
"That's not easy, not being every day in the lineup," Escobar said.
Royals manager Ned Yost said the lesser workload could be beneficial for Bonifacio as the season continues.
"Because he's not playing every day doesn't mean it's going to negatively affect him," Yost said. "It could be very positive for him right now."
As a rookie, Bonifacio has never played a full Major League season. The Minor League regular season ends at the beginning of September. As Yost said, the extra month -- and maybe more if the Royals make the postseason -- can be grueling.
"It's like the end of a marathon that you haven't practiced for," Yost said. "These off-days here are actually going to be beneficial for him to help him stay strong [and] let him get his feet underneath him a little bit."
Karns feeling good after having TOS surgery
August 4, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Right-hander Nate Karns was back in the Royals' clubhouse on Friday, almost three weeks to the day since he had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in Dallas.
Karns moved about with normal activity and certainly seemed in good spirits, even sharing the fact that his surgeon gave him the partial rib removed during the procedure as a keepsake.
"I do have it," Karns said, smiling. "I just have to figure how to clean it. They give it to you in a little container. I'm excited to clean it up and put it in a necklace, and wear it around -- that way I'll be a 100 percent skeleton instead of 99 percent."
The surgery is performed to eliminate or reduce the blood flow restriction in the shoulder area that is associated with the syndrome.
"Surgery went very well," Karns said. "I woke up and felt good. I was in the hospital for two or three days.
"I've just been doing normal things with the arm. No nervy pain coming out of post-op. All good things. It all leads to positive conclusions.
"Now, we start the therapy and then a throwing program. I have no idea when that will be. I'm just doing cardio right now to get the body ready, get the inflammation out of there."
Duffy looking to stay tough against Mariners
August 4, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Royals left-hander Danny Duffy and Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who both spent lengthy stints on the disabled list this season, will square off for the second time this season on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.
Hernandez (5-4, 4.28 ERA) has yet to completely return to form after right shoulder inflammation forced him onto the DL for two months. In eight starts since he was activated on June 23, Hernandez is 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 18 walks.
Hernandez and Duffy faced off on July 4. Hernandez allowed two home runs and six runs -- five earned -- over six innings. Duffy made his first start since going on the DL at the end of May that day, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings to pick up a win.
Duffy (7-6, 3.42) scattered seven hits and allowed one run over seven innings in his previous start against the Orioles on Monday. He has given up one run in three of his past four starts.
Three things to know about this game
• There's an 80 percent chance of rain in the forecast around game time on Saturday.
• Duffy has held left-handed hitters to one hit in 25 at-bats since he returned from the disabled list. For the year, lefties are hitting .181 against Duffy. The Mariners started five left-handed hitters on Friday.
• Melky Cabrera, who the Royals acquired in a trade on July 30, is batting .393 (11-for-28) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBIs in his career against Hernandez.
Royals wobble in seventh, fall 5-2 to the Mariners
August 4, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
For a moment, the managerial decisions were secondary. So was a frustrating seventh inning. A loss was just that: a loss.
In the moments after a 5-2 setback to the Mariners on Friday, Royals manager Ned Yost sat inside the interview room at Kauffman Stadium and offered an update on catcher Salvador Perez, who had exited the game after the sixth inning.
“It’s a little more concerning,” Yost said.
Perez had aggravated his right side, presumably while striking out to end the sixth. As his teammates swallowed a loss inside the home clubhouse, Perez underwent an MRI at the The University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex at the Chiefs’ practice facility across the parking lot.
His status was unclear. The Royals will know more on Saturday. But for a moment, the concern surrounding the club’s franchise catcher put a loss in perspective. Perez has battled side issues — on both sides — on and off for much of the last two months. A stint on the 10-day disabled list could be more detrimental than any one-game performance in early August.
“We’ll know more by tomorrow,” Yost said.
But first, of course, there was a game on Friday, one in which the Royals frittered away an opportunity for a second straight win with a shaky seventh inning.
Yost allowed starter Jason Hammel to start the seventh after six strong innings had resulted in a manageable pitch count. Hammel could not preserve a one-run lead. The bullpen could not rescue him. The formula doomed a Royals club contained by Mariners ace James Paxton and the back end of the Seattle bullpen.
“It’s frustrating,” Hammel said.
As the seventh inning began, Hammel’s pitch count was at 75. The Royals’ lead was 2-1. Yost sought to squeeze three more outs from his starter before handing the game to his pen. But trouble began to brew when Seattle’s Kyle Seager singled and Guillermo Heredia ripped an elevated slider into the left-field corner with one out, tying the game at 2-2.
Moments later, Yost called on recently acquired reliever Ryan Buchter, who was burned by soft singles from Jarrod Dyson and Leonys Martin. The exit velocities on the RBI singles were 71 mph and 67 mph, respectively. Yet each found a soft piece of grass on which to land. The Mariners suddenly had a 4-2 lead.
“The one to Dyson was a little up,” Buchter said. “And the other one was a little in to Martin, but that’s a tough little break right there. You can’t really hang your head too much.”
Hammel (5-9) would take the loss after allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Royals (56-52) dropped to 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians after their division rival routed the New York Yankees.
In some ways, the loss conformed to season-long trends. In 21 starts, Hammel had traditionally tired as the game progressed, allowing opponents to bat .350 (21 for 60) in the sixth inning and .320 (8 for 25) in the seventh. Yet Yost opted to ride with a veteran right-hander who has transformed into a reliable performer over the last two months.
In the moments after the loss, Hammel said he did not possess his best stuff on Friday. His command was erratic early. He managed to adjust as the game went on. An array of early contact kept his pitch count low.
“It’s very frustrating because Paxton has a great arm,” Hammel said. “He did a lot of good things today. To scratch out two on him was pretty special. To give it right back is kind of demoralizing.”
The seventh inning was the pivot point. Yet the offense could not break through against Paxton, who surrendered two earned runs in six innings. Unlike Hammel, Paxton’s pitch count was well above 90 pitches after six innings. Mariners manager Scott Servais opted for his bullpen in the seventh.
When the Royals swept the Mariners at Safeco Field in early July, Paxton did not pitch. The schedule offered fortunate timing. In the month of July, he was perhaps the best pitcher in baseball.