Daily Clips
June 18, 2017
LOCAL
Six-game win streak snapped as bats go quiet
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan and Kaelen jones/MLB.com
Royals see loss to Angels as speed bump
Six-game streak comes to end, but road trip has been uplifting
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Vargas seeking 10th win in finale vs. Halos
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Source: First-round pick Pratto agrees to terms
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan and William Boor/MLB.com
MLB initiative benefits prostate cancer research
Teams wearing special uniforms for Father's Day weekend
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Being a dad 'puts a smile' on Cain's face
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals fall 9-0 to Angels as winning streak ends at six games
June 18, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals say ‘nothing is completed’ with first-round draft pick Nick Pratto
June 18, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Onthe mound, Royals’ Jason Hammel carries memories of late father
June 18, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
MINORS
Chasers Routed by Cubs in 8-1 Defeat
Bubba Starling provides lone run as Omaha drop opener in Des Moines
June 18, 2017Omaha Storm Chasers
Naturals Claim First Half TL North Division Title
Northwest Arkansas completes five-game sweep over Drillers.
June 18, 2017Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Blue Rocks and Red Sox Postponed
Rocks and Red Sox to Play Doubleheader on Father's Day
June 18, 2017Wilmington Blue Rocks
Hagerstown tops Legends 6-5
June 18, 2017Lexington Legends
MLB TRANSACTIONS
June 18, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Six-game win streak snapped as bats go quiet
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan and Kaelen jones/MLB.com
Angels right-hander Alex Meyer matched a career-high with nine strikeouts and Albert Pujols belted a two-run blast to take sole possession of 10th all-time on the career RBI list to lead the Halos to a 9-0 win over Kansas City on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.
Meyer tossed six shutout innings, relinquishing just two hits and permitting one walk en route to snapping the Royals' season-best six-game win streak. The 6-foot-9 flamethrower earned his first win since May 14.
"If you go back to where he was last year, and if you go back to where he was at in Spring Training, he's moved light years ahead," Angels manager Mike Scioscia of Meyer's performance. "That's going to be important for his growth."
"The more you're out there, the more comfortable you get," said Meyer, who lowered his ERA to 3.52 with the win. "It's a matter of being consistent."
Cameron Maybin belted a home run off of Royals starter Jake Junis' first pitch of the game. The Kansas City rookie relinquished five runs on eight hits, including Pujols' fifth-inning shot, permitting no walks and striking out six before exiting after 5 1/3 innings.
"I thought it was a decent pitch," Junis said of the pitch to Pujols. "I thought he swung through the same pitch a couple of times before, but that's why he's one of the greatest hitters of all time."
Luis Valbuena added a three-run insurance home run off Royals reliever Chris Young during the Angels' four-run seventh inning. Relievers Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian and Yusmeiro Petit combined for three shutout innings to draw Los Angeles back to .500 at 36-36.
"We got on a little roll today," Meyer said. "It was a big game for us after losing the first couple of the series."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Kansas City blues: The Royals were unable to take advantage after winning a challenge during the top of the sixth inning. Danny Espinosa's error at second set the table for Jorge Bonifacio with runners on first and second with none out, but the right fielder grounded into 6-4-3 double play, and two at-bats later, Meyer struck out his ninth batter of the day, maintaining the Angels' 5-0 lead.
"You don't see many curve balls like that," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Meyer. "[Astros starter Lance] McCullers has one. But not many guys have that."
Breaking it open: Espinosa scored two with a bases-loaded single to give the Angels a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Espinosa, who struggled through an 0-for-36 slump in early May, is 12-for-46 (.260) with 11 RBIs in his last 14 games.
QUOTABLE
"They say a blind squirrel will find a nut every once in awhile. I guess I was able to find a nut." -- Maybin, on his 2-for-4 game
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Dating back to May 14, Maybin has reached safely in 22 straight contests.
UNDER FURTHER REVIEW
Drew Butera was ruled out upon taking second base when Whit Merrifield grounded into a 6-4 putout, which was mishandled by Espinosa before he stepped on the base. The Royals challenged the call, and after review, the call was overturned and Butera was safe at second base. Kansas City is now 14-3 on challenges this season.
WHAT'S NEXT
Royals: Left-hander Jason Vargas (9-3, 2.10 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals on Sunday at 2:37 p.m. CT in the series finale against the Angels. Vargas gave up one run over seven innings in the Royals' 8-1 win over the Giants on Tuesday.
Angels: Right-hander JC Ramirez (6-4, 4.19) will take the ball for Sunday's series finale against Kansas City at 12:37 p.m. PT. Ramirez tossed a career-high 111 pitches while drawing a no-decision in his last outing in the Angels' 3-2 win over the Yankees. He allowed two runs and struck out seven batters in 6 2/3 innings.
Royals see loss to Angels as speed bump
Six-game streak comes to end, but road trip has been uplifting
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals' six-game winning streak came to an end Saturday in a 9-0 loss to the Angels.
And the streak ended with the way many winning steaks end -- an opposing pitcher simply is too good to beat. That was the case this time, too, as Angels right-hander Alex Meyer dominated the Royals, holding them to two hits over six innings while striking out nine.
But the Royals remain confident with one game remaining on a 6-2 road trip so far.
"For sure we're confident," second baseman Whit Merrifield said. "It was just one of those days today. Go back at it tomorrow and try to finish off a good road trip."
Royals catcher Drew Butera agreed, adding, "It was a tough day all around. Games like this happen. It's not going to break our confidence. Just come back tomorrow and get them."
Several Royals mentioned the difficulty of seeing Meyer's stuff through the shadows.
"Five o'clock games here don't help," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Shadows make it tough to see. But even if you could see it, that's a pretty good curveball [Meyer] has. The degree of difficulty was in the shadows, but we knew it would be an issue for both sides."
Said Merrifield: "First couple of innings we weren't really seeing anything. But [the Angels] had to cope with the same stuff. But when a guy is throwing mid- to upper-90s with a good curveball and you can't see, it's tough."
But the Royals still see the loss as nothing but a speed bump.
Regardless of Sunday's outcome in the series finale, this Royals' road trip has been a potentially season-turning one. The Royals, once seemingly buried, have crept within three games of the .500 mark and still sit tied for third in the American League Central.
"And we're not done yet," Yost said. "We got another game tomorrow. We're just going to focus on that."
Vargas seeking 10th win in finale vs. Halos
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals left-hander Jason Vargas will be seeking his 10th win this season when he takes the mound against the Angels on Sunday. Vargas will be opposed by right-hander JC Ramirez.
Vargas is putting together a career year, and one that should be recognized come All-Star time, according to manager Ned Yost.
"He's certainly deserving," Yost said. "He's been as good as anyone in the league."
Vargas was dominant again his last time out on Tuesday. In an 8-1 win over San Francisco, Vargas gave up one run and five hits over seven innings while striking out six.
Vargas, a former Angel, is 6-4 with a 3.02 ERA against his former club in 16 appearances, 15 of those starts.
Ramirez went 6 2/3 innings against the Yankees in his last start, allowing two earned runs while striking out seven. He also set a career-high with 111 pitches in that game.
Three things to know about this game
• Ramirez is making his second start of the season against the Royals. He gave up five runs in five innings against them in April.
• Third baseman Mike Moustakas is the only current Royal to have homered off Ramirez.
• Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has the fourth-highest hard-contact rate (95-plus exit velocity) in the Majors at 13.2 percent.
Source: First-round pick Pratto agrees to terms
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan and William Boor/MLB.com
The Kansas City Royals and first-round Draft pick (No. 14 overall) Nick Pratto have agreed to terms, according to a source.
Pratto's deal is for $3.45 million, a source said, slightly below slot value for the pick ($3,727,600). Pratto will fly to Kansas City on Sunday to sign the deal and make it official.
The team has not confirmed the details of the deal, which is still pending a physical.
"We are extremely excited to have drafted Nick Pratto and confident we will sign him at the appropriate time," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "We remain in the signing process and nothing is complete at this time."
Pratto, who is ranked No. 13 on MLB Pipeline's Top 200 Draft Prospects list, is a first baseman out of Huntington Beach High School (Calif.) and was committed to USC.
MLB initiative benefits prostate cancer research
Teams wearing special uniforms for Father's Day weekend
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
On this Father's Day weekend, all Royals players and on-field personnel are wearing a symbolic blue ribbon on their uniforms along with blue wristbands and a specially designed uniform and cap.
It's all part of an MLB initiative to raise awareness about prostate cancer and to raise funds for research.
Count Royals first-base coach Rusty Kuntz as a supporter of the initiative. Kuntz encourages all men to get screened for prostate cancer, as well as other cancers.
"Doctors are there to save your lives," Kuntz said. "Let them do their jobs. Go get screened."
Royals manager Ned Yost also is a big fan of Major League Baseball's efforts in this area.
"We get tested every spring," Yost said. "I'm glad for that."
The uniforms incorporate a different hue of blue from the Royals' blue into the logos and caps, which have a blue shadow tech heather crown and graphite visor.
MLB will again donate all royalty payments from the sales of specialty caps and jerseys to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.
Also, for Father's Day, MLB.com, all 30 clubs and broadcast partners will express their gratitude by sharing their favorite baseball moments of dad on social media using #MLBDads, and fans are encouraged to do the same.
Being a dad 'puts a smile' on Cain's face
June 18, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Many things changed for Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain during the 2014 playoffs, among them a trip to his first World Series.
But nothing compared that October to the birth of Cain's first son, Cameron, during the postseason.
"Nothing like being a dad," Cain said. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Cain and his wife, Jenny, had another son, Jayden, born in January 2016. And they're expecting a third child this fall. Lorenzo is hoping to add a girl to the family.
"We'll find out any day," Cain said, smiling.
This is Cain's third Father's Day as a parent, and he said he is honored to be a father.
"It means a lot," Cain said. "Every day I get to spend with them means a lot. They put a smile on my face."
Being a father changed Cain, he said, in dramatic ways.
"It gives you a new perspective," he said. "It changes you a lot. It humbles you. It makes you grow up in a hurry. It is something I definitely enjoy. Like I said before, they put a smile on your face.
"No matter what you do at the ballpark, you can go 0-for-4, and they still love you. And they're still happy to see you."
Cain also still can't believe the cuteness factor involved with having children.
"My youngest one, Jayden, is just starting to talk, so that's cute," Cain said. "But when you come into the house, they always run up and yell, 'Daddy!' That's always the best moment for me."
And Cain does have a special message on Father's Day: "To all the Dads out there, like I told my momma on Mother's Day, 'Keep loving on your sons.'"
Royals fall 9-0 to Angels as winning streak ends at six games
June 18, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Before Saturday night at Angel Stadium, Albert Pujols had hit 22 career homers in 90 games against the Royals, the professional baseball team from his adopted hometown.
Pujols, 37 years old and aging, is not the superstar he once was. His power has diminished. His legs are basically shot. A few weeks ago, he became the ninth player in history to reach 600 homers. Yet as he started another game at designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels, his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging) sat at .656, nearly 300 points below his career average.
Pujols, a graduate of Fort Osage High School, does not strike fear in opposing pitchers like he once did. But for a swing here, or a swing there, he can resemble his old self. So it was in the fifth inning on Saturday night against Royals rookie starter JakobJunis.
On an 0-1 count, Junis threw a sinker that moved toward the inner third of the plate. Pujols released his hands and roped the baseball over the wall in left-center.
“I thought it was a decent pitch,” Junis would say. “I thought he had swung through two of those in the previous at-bat. … He’s one of the best hitters of all time. So give him credit.”
In a 9-0 loss to the Angels, the two-run shot served as the finishing punch in an early flurry. The Royals trailed 5-0 after five innings as the shadows danced around Angel Stadium, causing headaches for hitters. A six-game winning streak died as Junis was knocked for five earned runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
The afternoon and evening shadows, Royals manager Ned Yost said, contributed to a quiet offensive performance against Los Angeles’ Alex Meyer, who tossed six scoreless innings. But they could not rescue Junis.
“We knew it would be an issue,” Yost said. “But it would be an issue for both sides.”
In his fourth career start, Junis could not build on a solid seven-inning performance in San Diego last Sunday. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Cameron Maybin in the first. He was ambushed for two runs and four hits in the fourth. He was introduced to Pujols in the fifth.
“Just a few pitches got away,” he said.
The Angels pounced on his sinker and kept on the attack. The Royals’ offense, facing another young starter, could not keep pace. Meyer, a 6-foot-9 right-hander, cooled off a lineup that had averaged 7.5 runs per game during a six-game winning streak. Armed with a devastating curveball and a mid 90s fastball, he yielded just two hits in six innings, striking out nine.
“You don’t see a lot of breaking balls like that,” Yost said. “[Houston’s Lance] McCullers has got one.”
The Royals (32-35) finished the day 3 1/2 games out of first place as AL Central Division leaders Cleveland and Minnesota played a doubleheader at Target Field in Minneapolis. The Indians claimed the first game, drawing even in the standings. They took the second game on late Saturday night, grabbing hold of the division lead. The Royals will conclude a nine-game road trip on Sunday when Jason Vargas takes the mound.
Back in Anaheim, the night transformed into a rout after Royals reliever Chris Young appeared with one out in the sixth. The Angels popped Young for four runs in the seventh as the 6-foot-10 right-hander spent another evening getting pummeled, soaking up innings as the Royals’ mop-up man turned occasional white flag.
In 30 innings this season, Young has posted a 7.50 ERA while surrendering seven homers. On Saturday, he served up a three-run shot to Luis Valbuena on a 1-2 slider in the seventh.
In some ways, the late runs mattered little. For six innings, the Royals could not handle Meyer, 27, who had allowed just three earned runs across 16 2/3 innings in his last three starts. A former first-round pick of the Washington Nationals in 2011, Meyer had spent much of the 2016 season hamstrung by a soaring walk rate, issuing 6.53 per nine innings. His fastball command was often erratic. The extra base runners were his demise. Facing the Royals, who entered the day last in the majors with 160 walks, that would be no problem.