Daily Clips
May 6, 2018
LOCAL
Hammel's 3-run first proves costly in loss
May 5, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Duffy patient in working toward turnaround
May 5, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Still in search of their first series victory, Royals lose to Tigers 3-2
May 5, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
'Nice pitch, kid': Hometown pitcher throws scoreless inning in debut for Royals
May 5, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Current, former Royals thrilled that Jason Adam has reached the majors
May 5, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
MINORS
'Cakes Rise Above Storm Chasers 13-2
Lopez leaves yard for first Triple-A homer on Saturday evening
May 5, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Rocks Can't Outslug Keys in Loss
Teams Combined for 21 Runs and 27 Hits
May 5, 2018By Wilmington Blue Rocks
NATIONAL
Moncada to DL with left hamstring tightness
Second baseman not expected to miss more than 10 days; Rondon recalled; A. Garcia takes BP
May 5, 2018By Scott Merkin/MLB.com
Twins place Castro on DL with meniscus tear
Garver to get majority of time at catcher; Wilson recalled, Santana moved to 60-day DL
May 5, 2018By Rhett Bollinger/MLB.com
MLB TRANSACTIONS
May 6, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Hammel's 3-run first proves costly in loss
May 5, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
No offensive breakout and no late-inning magic this time.
The Royals were shut out for five innings by Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann and managed just five hits in a 3-2 loss on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals matched a season high with 10 runs Thursday, then rallied for a 4-2 win Friday. But Zimmermann has yet to allow the Royals more than two runs in six career starts against them.
The Royals did have the tying run on third and the winning run on first with two out in the ninth against Tigers closer Shane Greene. Lucas Duda led off with a double and scored when Alex Gordon's one-out liner to center actually caromed off Leonys Martin's head for an error. Gordon then went to third on Ryan Goins' two-out single, but Jon Jay struck out to end the game.
"You feel good about the situation there," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "You get in that situation where you're just one hit from tying it up, and really, a double away from winning the ballgame. We gave ourselves a chance."
Royals starter Jason Hammel was hit hard in the first, giving up RBI doubles to Nicholas Castellanos, Victor Martinez and John Hicks.
But Hammel settled down after that and allowed the Tigers no further runs. And he saved the bullpen to some degree, going 6 2/3 innings. He have up 10 hits, three runs, walked one and struck out five.
"Tough to come out there and give up three right away," Hammel said. "It's my job to set the tone. But then we're fighting from behind. … We got some length, but [still came up short]."
The Royals had a great chance to do some damage in the fifth inning, with some help from the Tigers. Alcides Escobar drew a one-out walk, and with two outs advanced to second on Jay's single to right.
Jorge Soler grounded to third, but was safe at first when Hicks dropped the throw. But with the bases loaded, Zimmermann struck out Mike Moustakas.
"He made good pitches when he got in trouble," Royals center fielder Abraham Almonte said. Almonte homered later off reliever Blaine Hardy.
SOUND SMART
Soler's 10-game hitting streak and 19-game on-base streak ended after he went 0-for-4.
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Royals rookie right-hander Jason Adam made his Major League debut in the ninth inning. Adam, a fifth-round Draft pick by the Royals in 2010, was traded to Minnesota in 2014, but eventually found his way back to the Royals organization. He walked his first hitter, Martin. But Adam then struck out Jeimer Candelario as part of a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play. Adam then gave up a double to Castellanos, but got Martinez to ground out to end his scoreless inning.
Adam was the sixth Royal to make his Major League debut this season.
"First hitter, just a little nervous," Adam said. "We saw that with the walk. It was just a surreal moment. I had a lot of people tell me to really take it in on your jog in, and I did. After the walk, I was like, 'I better lock this back in.'"
After the walk, catcher Salvador Perez came to the mound.
"He just said, 'You got this. Same as Double-A, Triple-A, just keep pitching. Come to my glove and I'll take care of things,'" Adam said. " I appreciated that."
UP NEXT
Right-hander Jakob Junis (3-2, 3.29 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals as they wrap up a four-game set with Detroit on Sunday at 1:15 p.m CT. Left-hander Matthew Boyd (1-2, 2.48 ERA) pitches for the visiting Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Junis gave up seven hits and two runs over six innings last Tuesday in Boston. Junis already has faced the Tigers twice this season and is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA.
Duffy patient in working toward turnaround
May 5, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
As any Royals fan or observer can tell, left-hander Danny Duffy is as baffled as anyone by his numbers this season -- 0-4, with a 5.63 ERA.
But as Duffy searches for answers, he reports he is physically 100 percent. And Duffy also says he is mechanically sound. He is not planning any changes to his delivery.
"I'm falling off on my changeup, but that's something we work on all the time," Duffy said. "It's not some revolutionary mechanical change we have to make. It's just physical.
"I'm OK [mentally]. I just don't know what I else I can say to own up to it. It's a slump. I'm not pitching up to my standards consistently."
As expected, Duffy has plenty of support inside the clubhouse.
"Moose [Mike Moustakas] keeps telling me, 'Dude, you're not even pitching that bad. Just hang tough,'" Duffy said. "I appreciate the support from him and the other teammates. I just want to do better. I expect to do better. Obviously, it hurts big time to go through this."
Duffy also is trying everything he can to not sound like a broken record.
"I know I'm going to be better," Duffy said. "I know it's the, 'Don't talk about it, just do it' thing for some people. But should I just shut up about it?
"This much I know. If this is my bad, my good is going to be pretty good."
Still in search of their first series victory, Royals lose to Tigers 3-2
May 5, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Tigers left fielder JaCoby Jones hopped, held onto the edge of the bullpen wall in left field and stared.
Suspended a few feet above the warning track, it was all he could do as Royals outfielder Abraham Almonte’s sixth-inning solo home run ball sliced through the air and dumped into the visiting bullpen at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Jones hovered a few seconds. By the time he returned to the ground, the Royals had scored for the first time in the game.
In the end, the run mattered little. The Tigers had taken an early lead off Royals starting pitcher Jason Hammel, and the Royals’ offense never dug itself out of the hole. The Royals lost 3-2.
“The damage was basically on pitches up in the zone,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.
“Hammel came in after the first inning, got himself settled down. Did a great job of holding it right there. … I thought he pitched a really, really good game. Normally you give up three in the first and you hold it, you got a chance. He gave us a chance.”
Yet as Hammel plowed through an additional 5 2/3 innings and scattered another six hits, Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann was more effective. He gave the Royals few chances to make up for Hammel’s first inning.
Zimmermann, who entered with a career 1.67 ERA in six outings against the Royals, carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning. When he faced trouble in the fifth — Tigers first baseman John Hicks dropped what should have been the third out, allowing Royals outfielder Jorge Soler to reach on an error and load the bases — he struck out Mike Moustakas on four pitches.
Despite scoring one run in the ninth inning on an error by Tigers center fielder Leonys Martin, the Royals couldn’t extend their fortune. Jon Jay struck out and stranded the winning run at first base, ending the game.
The Royals dropped to 10-23. On Sunday, the Royals will return to Kauffman Stadium in search of their first series victory of the season.
“Tough to come out there and give up three,” Hammel said. “It’s my job to set the tone. But then we’re fighting from behind.”
'Nice pitch, kid': Hometown pitcher throws scoreless inning in debut for Royals
May 5, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Royals rookie Jason Adam strolled off the mound on Saturday afternoon, his first major-league strikeout under his belt, and finally felt the knots in his stomach unclench.
The 26-year-old pitcher from Overland Park, who’s cut a winding path to debuting for his hometown team, worked a scoreless ninth inning in the Royals’ 3-2 loss to the Tigers.
He struck out Tigers third baseman Jeimer Canderlario on a 97 mph fastball. He worked around a walk and Nicholas Castellanos’ third extra-base hit of the game, receiving a boost when catcher Salvador Perez caught Leonys Martin trying to steal second base on Candelario’s punch out and when veteran Victor Martinez rolled over a low fastball for a ground-ball out.
To four batters, Adam threw a total of 19 pitches. He recorded three outs.
As he retreated to the Royals’ dugout, Martinez stopped Adam to say, “Nice pitch, kid.”
“It was a good first outing,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “First major-league strikeout. I was hoping we could get him a win.”
What Adam received instead seemed equally significant. He’d worked for nearly eight years to make it back to the field at Kauffman Stadium. Adam, a Blue Valley Northwest graduate, hadn’t even returned to watch a game in years, since well before a series of four elbow surgeries forced him to miss the 2015 and ’16 seasons.
He referred to his journey as a redemption tour.
It started in Tulsa a few weeks ago. He’d pitched poorly there last season, he said, but this time he struck out five batters in 1 2/3 innings for Class AA Northwest Arkansas on April 22.
Later, he learned he would join Class AAA Omaha on a road trip. The Storm Chasers were in Colorado Springs, Colo. — the same place Adam was when the Royals traded him to the Twins in 2014.
And when he traipsed across the grounds here during batting practice on Friday, it was the first time he’d done so since he was selected by the Royals in the fifth round of the 2010 draft.
Whether Adam earns a long-term spot in the Royals' bullpen remains to be seen. The relief corps still faces an uphill battle to improve the 6.35 ERA it posted during the first 15 games of the season. It has retained the moniker of worst in the majors, now sporting a 5.93 ERA.
As the Royals try to knock that number down, Adam's velocity and plus-grade curveball might provide a temporary solution as they await the returns of Justin Grimm (back stiffness) and Nathan Karns (right elbow inflammation) from the disabled list.
For one night, at least, that decision won't loom over Adam's head. He saw his tour reach its height with an outing on Saturday that garnered praise from a 16-year veteran in Martinez and his own 63-year-old manager.
“It was just a surreal moment,” Adam said. “I had a lot of people tell me to really take it in on your jog in, and I did. It’s hard to explain.
“But then, after the walk, I was like, ‘Better lock this back in.’”
Current, former Royals thrilled that Jason Adam has reached the majors
May 5, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Blue Valley Northwest graduate Jason Adam took a decidedly unconventional route to the majors.
But it wasn't by choice.
Adam was called up by the Royals on Friday after enduring four surgeries that wiped out more than two years of his career.
That perseverance is why Adam's current and former teammates were so very happy for him. Many took to social media to show their support for Adam.
Royals minor-league pitcher Kyle Zimmer wrote: "One of the best and most deserving guys around. He’s been through it all and has never lost faith. Congrats brotha!"
Zimmer and Adam were teammates for a season at Class AA Northwest Arkansas.
Royals pitcher Kevin McCarthy responded to Zimmer's tweet and wrote: "Baller Supreme"
Former Royals and Braves outfielder Lane Adams wrote: "I’m not crying, I just have something in my eye."
Adams and Adam were teammates from 2012-14 at Class A Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas.
Mike Swanson, the Royals vice president of broadcasting, tweeted: "Congratulations to @Jason_Adam9 on his promotion to the Major League club. Phenomenal perseverance and faith have brought Blue Valley Northwest star back home to make his debut in front of family and friends."
Sam Selman, a left-hander at Northwest Arkansas, tweeted: "Could not be more excited for this guy! Congrats @Jason_Adam9 on your call up. Papa Luebs and I cannot wait for some 0-2 fastballs!"
That's obviously an inside joke. Selman were teammates in 2014 with the Naturals and Class AAA Omaha.
Ethan Chapman, who was teammates with Adam for one season at Northwest Arkansas, tweeted: "God is so good! Very proud of you Jason! Well deserved."
MINORS
'Cakes Rise Above Storm Chasers 13-2
Lopez leaves yard for first Triple-A homer on Saturday evening
May 5, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
New Orleans starter Ben Meyer allowed just one run on two hits and the Baby Cake offense put up a seven run fifth inning to silence the Storm Chasers 13-2 Saturday night at Werner Park.
DH Tomas Telis started the scoring for the Baby Cakes in the third inning, with a two-run single to take an early 2-0 lead. New Orleans would add another run in the fourth before a seven run fifth inning that saw all nine Baby Cakes get a turn at the plate. 3B Eric Campbell capped off the inning with a three-run blast to left field to give New Orleans a 10-0 lead.
Omaha got on the board in the fifth inning. DH Frank Schwindel recorded the Storm Chasers' first hit on a double to left. Two batters later, RF Bubba Starling singled Schwindel home to make the score 10-1 after five.
New Orleans scored three more in the seventh to take the 13-1 lead. Omaha SS Jack Lopez later homered in the ninth for his first Triple-A longball.
Six Baby Cakes batters drove in runs Saturday night, as Telis, Campbell and CF Magneuris Sierra each drove in three apiece. Omaha starter Andres Machado (5.0 IP, 14 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 2 BB, K) suffered the loss on the night. Meyer (7.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 5 K) recorded the victory for the Baby Cakes.
The two teams are set return to Werner Park for game three of their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. CT. RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-1, 5.32) is anticipated to get the nod for Omaha, with New Orleans expected to give the ball to RHP Trevor Richards (0-0, 2.45).
Rocks Can't Outslug Keys in Loss
Teams Combined for 21 Runs and 27 Hits
May 5, 2018By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Both offenses were on display in the middle game of the series, but the Wilmington Blue Rocks (13-15) were unable to keep pace with the Frederick Keys (11-18) Saturday night at Frawley Stadium and dropped the second game of the series, 12-9. Both teams combined for 27 hits and 18 walks as Brandon Downes, Meibrys Viloria and Chris DeVito each drove in a pair of runs for the Blue Rocks in the loss.
The scoring started in the third inning when the Keys erupted for five runs in the frame. Alejandro Juvier drove in a pair of runs with a single before Chris Clare extended the lead with a three-run homer to make it 5-0. The Keys added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Yojhan Quevedo to widen the gap, 6-0. Wilmington responded in the fourth inning. Downes roped an RBI double to plate Khalil Lee who led the inning off with a walk to get Wilmington on the board, 6-1. Viloria walked and then scored on an RBI double from Xavier Fernandez to make it 6-2. DeVito followed with a run-scoring single to right field and a fielding error by Jake Ring allowed Fernandez to score on the play to make it 6-4. That would be the closest the Rocks would get to the Keys.
Frederick scored three more runs in the fifth inning on a two-run double from Reyes and a wild pitch to push the Keys ahead 9-4. Wilmington added two runs in their half of the inning on a pair of ground outs from Downes and Viloria to make it a 9-6 contest. Wilmington however was unable to keep the Keys off the board. Frederick added two more runs in the sixth on a Ryan McKenna double and another tally in the eighth on a run-scoring single from Reyes. Wilmington plated a run in the seventh on Viloria's RBI single and added a pair in the ninth on an RBI single from DeVito and a passed ball to cap the scoring.