Moose Homers, but KC's Comeback Falls Short

Daily Clips

August 7, 2017

LOCAL

Moose homers, but KC's comeback falls short

August 6, 2017 By Wilson Alexander and Greg Johns/MLB.com

Junis' 8 strong, Melky's HR power KC in G2

August 6, 2017 By Wilson Alexander and Greg Johns/MLB.com

Gallagher enjoys successful debut for Royals

Rookie catcher logs 1st hit, run in his start against Mariners

August 6, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com

Salvy lands on DL with right intercostal strain

Butera to step in at catcher; Gallagher to fill backup role

August 6, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com

Kennedy, Royals ready for I-70 Series opener

August 6, 2017By Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

Royals can’t complete comeback in 8-7 loss to the Mariners

August 6, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star

A rookie battery leads Royals over Mariners in 9-1 victory

August 6, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star

Third in his family to try, Royals catcher Cam Gallagher makes big league debut

August 6, 2017By Maria Torres/KC Star

MINORS

Chasers Shut Out 'Cats in Front of 7,353

Garcia's 7 solid frames, Soler's 2 HR lead Omaha to series win

August 6, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers

Springfield Snips Naturals, 5-2 in Finale

August 6, 2017By Naturals PR Department

Resilient Rocks Rally Four Times for Walk-Off Series Win

Roman Collins Drives Home Winning Run in 10th inning

August 6, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks

Hickory gains series split with 5-1 win

August 6, 2017By Lexington Legends

Voyagers Earn Series Split with Idaho Falls

Villa, Dutto, and Frost Launch Homers

August 6, 2017 By Shawn Tiemann/Great Falls Voyagers

Royals Edged by Astros in Series Opener

Greeneville walks off in ninth to take 2-1 win

August 6, 2017By Matt Krause/Burlington Royals

MLB TRANSACTIONS
August 7, 2017 •.CBSSports.com

LOCAL

Moose homers, but KC's comeback falls short

August 6, 2017 By Wilson Alexander and Greg Johns/MLB.com

The Mariners hit four home runs, including two by designated hitter Nelson Cruz, to propel themselves to an 8-7 win over the Royals in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

With the win, the Mariners drew within a half-game of the Royals and Rays, who are tied for the second American League Wild Card spot. Kansas City remained three games behind the Indians in the AL Central after Cleveland lost to the Yankees.

The Mariners pounced on Royals left-hander Danny Duffy early, as first baseman Danny Valencia hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Third baseman Kyle Seager followed with his 16th home run three batters later.

Cruz hit his first home run of the day, a three-run shot that gave the Mariners a 7-0 lead, in the second inning. In the seventh, Cruz hit his second homer of the game, a 465-foot blast, according to Statcast™, that became the Mariners' longest home run this season.

"Cruz really swung the bat well," said Mariners manager Scott Servais, who had the big designated hitter back after he missed Friday's game with back spasms. "A couple of those balls he hit were unbelievable. That second one was just a bomb. And we needed it. We needed every run today."

Mike Moustakas hit a two-run home run, his 31st of the season, off right-hander Nick Vincent in the eighth inning to cut the Royals' deficit to one run, but Vincent didn't allow another run, and Edwin Diaz recorded his 23rd save.

"The one tack-on home run, the one that Cruz hit, ended up breaking our back right there," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Rookie Marco Gonzales allowed seven hits and five runs in four-plus innings in his Mariners debut in place of Felix Hernandez, who went on the disabled list Saturday with biceps tendinitis. Gonzales was acquired two weeks ago from the Cardinals.

"That was beautiful," Gonzales said of being spotted a seven-run lead by his offense. "That was amazing. I was thanking everybody in the dugout. That was so great. It's so nice to pitch with the lead right away. It calmed the nerves a lot and I just tried to go out and fill up the strike zone."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Coulda, shoulda, woulda: The Royals had two viable chances to prevent the Mariners from scoring four runs in the second inning. With two outs, the Royals caught Jean Segura, who walked, in a rundown but couldn't tag him out. After a single by Valencia, Robinson Cano struck out. But the pitch from Duffy skipped away from catcher Drew Butera and toward the Royals' dugout, allowing Cano to reach first and Segura to score. Cruz hit his three-run home run five pitches later. All four runs scored in the inning were unearned.

"When you give a Major League team, especially with that kind of power, four or five outs, it's going to be tough to come out of the inning unscathed," said Duffy, who took the loss.

Pazos limits the damage: After the Royals scored their third run of the game and put runners on second and third with no out in the fifth inning, the Mariners called on left-hander James Pazos. He induced an RBI groundout from Eric Hosmer, a sacrifice fly from Melky Cabrera and a popout from Moustakas to end the inning and allow the Mariners to retain a 7-5 lead. The Mariners needed seven relievers to get through the final five frames.

"We got off to a great start against Duffy, and then we challenged a lot of our guys in the bullpen," Servais said. " Everybody had to chip in."

QUOTABLE

"It feels great. I've heard such great things about this organization and the chemistry these guys have. And it's true. These guys made me feel really comfortable and welcome, and that's a huge deal to be able to play with that feeling." -- Gonzales, a Gonzaga University product, on his first game with the Mariners.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Seager's first-inning home run was the first extra-base hit by a left-hander off Duffy since April 26. Prior to Seager's at-bat, lefties had gone 1-for-26 against Duffy since he came off the disabled list in July, and they were hitting .178 on the season in 73 at-bats.

TOUGH BLOW FOR MARINERS BULLPEN

Right-handed reliever David Phelps, who had been excellent for Seattle since being acquired in a July 28 trade from the Marlins, had to leave the game with discomfort in his elbow after retiring the only batter he faced leading off the seventh. Butera flew out to center on Phelps' seventh pitch, a 93-mph fastball, before Phelps signaled to the dugout and was immediately taken out of the game.

WHAT'S NEXT

Mariners: Left-hander Ariel Miranda (7-5, 4.24 ERA) will start on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. PT when the Mariners open a two-game road series against the A's. New first baseman Yonder Alonso should be in the lineup for Seattle after being acquired on Sunday in a trade with Oakland.

Royals: Right-hander Ian Kennedy (4-7, 4.60) starts the opener of a four-game home-and-home series against the Cardinals at 7:15 p.m. CT on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. The I-70 Series shifts to Busch Stadium for the final two games on Wednesday and Thursday. Kennedy has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his past nine starts.

Junis' 8 strong, Melky's HR power KC in G2

August 6, 2017 By Wilson Alexander and Greg Johns/MLB.com

Rookie right-hander Jake Junis was excellent in a spot start and Melky Cabrera drove in four runs as the Royals rolled to a 9-1 win over the Mariners in Game 2 to split Sunday's doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals pulled a half-game ahead of the Rays and 1 1/2 games in front of the Mariners for the second American League Wild Card spot. Kansas City also sits 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Indians in the AL Central.

Junis, the 26th man for the twin bill, went eight innings with a career-high seven strikeouts, retiring the last 19 batters he faced. Junis, who made his first Major League start since June 29, gave up one run on four hits to pick up his fourth win of the season.

"I definitely felt like I hit a stride around the fifth inning," Junis said. "I was getting some quick outs and some quick innings, and a lot of momentum. It just carried."

"His curveball and slider were his 'A' curveball and slider," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It was a big boost for us."

After Danny Espinosa's RBI double opened the scoring in the second inning, Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez was tagged for five runs on eight hits over his five frames in the loss.

The Mariners settled for a split of the four-game series after winning the opener of their first doubleheader since 2014.

"It was an emotional first game and we hung on, and guys were fired up, but you have to carry it right over to the second game, and we just didn't get enough going early on," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "They put some good swings on Erasmo. The middle of their lineup, we just couldn't keep under control. We did a pretty good job in this series until the last game. Then, they got their hits and drove in runs. They're good. They got it going and we just couldn't stop them."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Melk-man delivers: With the scored tied at 1 in the third inning, Cabrera launched his first home run since being acquired by the Royals in a trade on July 30. Following a solo home run by Whit Merrifield, Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer both singled with two out. On a 1-1 pitch, Cabrera, who was a triple shy of the cycle, drilled his 14th home run of the season to right-center, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead.

Espinosa opens door: The Mariners had a prime opportunity to turn a double play during the Royals' four-run seventh inning, but that was squandered when backup first baseman Espinosa threw the ball into left field. With Cam Gallagher on second and Merrifield on first, Cain hit a sharp ground ball to Espinosa. Shortstop Jean Segura was late to the bag, and Espinosa threw the ball into the outfield, allowing Gallagher to score. The Royals scored three more runs in the inning off Cody Martin, who was the Mariners' 26th man for the twin bill.

"I thought clearly the baserunner tried to interfere with the throw and got out of the basepath," said Servais, who went out to complain after Espinosa pumped once and then tried to throw around Merrifield. "I was confused on what the umpire was trying to explain to me there. He went a couple different routes. But I thought clearly he looked to interfere with the play, which is a heads-up baserunning play. I don't know how allowable it is, but he got away with it."

QUOTABLE

"One inning was the big damage. Same as in Texas, one inning just changed everything. Everything from now on is going to be about keeping the ball inside the ballpark because that's the only way they're getting runs against me. That's what I have to work on, and execute better with my pitches." -- Ramirez, after he gave up three homers in his second start since being acquired from the Rays

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Jarrod Dyson stole his AL-leading 27th base in the first inning. The Mariners center fielder -- and former Royal -- is 27-for-33 on attempts this season and 203-for-239 in his career, the second-best all-time percentage among players with at least 200 attempts at 84.9. Carlos Beltran has the top success rate at 86.4.

GALLAGHER DEBUTS

With Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez on the 10-day disabled list, Gallagher made his Major League debut in the ninth inning of Game 1 and started Game 2. Gallagher reached base for the first time on a walk and scored on Espinosa's throwing error. Then, in the ninth inning, Gallagher dropped a single into center field for his first Major League hit. Yost said Gallagher received the ball well behind the plate, too.

"It was everything I think he ever dreamed about," Yost said.

WHAT'S NEXT

Gallagher enjoys successful debut for Royals

Rookie catcher logs 1st hit, run in his start against Mariners

August 6, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com

Standing outside of the Royals' locker room following Sunday's 9-1 win over the Mariners, Gwen Gallagher's green eyes were red from crying tears of joy.

Gwen, her husband, Glenn, and son, Austin, were supposed to be at the beach. Instead, they arrived in Kansas City at 2:30 a.m. CT on Sunday to watch Royals catcher Cam Gallagher make his Major League debut. Gallagher recorded his first hit in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Mariners at Kauffman Stadium.

"It's hard to even put it into words," Gwen said. "It's been emotional and fun. A dream come true."

Gallagher caught the ninth inning of the Royals' 8-7 loss in the opener before making his first Major League start in the nightcap. Two of his best friends, Adam Yuninger and Brandon Hartranft, dropped what they were doing -- Hartranft was at the beach in New Jersey -- to be in attendance.

"Tremendous," manager Ned Yost said of Gallagher's performance. "He did a great job."

Gallagher, who was added to the 25-man roster on Sunday morning in a move corresponding with catcher Salvador Perez being placed on the 10-day disabled list, nearly came up with his first hit in the third inning, but lined the ball right at Mariners' third baseman Kyle Seager.

"I thought I had it, but these guys are good," Gallagher said.

In the seventh inning, Gallagher drew a walk to reach base for the first time. Later in the inning, he took advantage of Danny Espinosa's throwing error to score his first run. An inning later, Gallagher dropped a single into center field for his first Major League hit. After he reached first base, he smiled and looked for his family.

"I was trying to look for them because I know they were probably pretty happy," said Gallagher, who went 1-for-3. "Just wanted to share that moment with them."

Behind the plate, Gallagher caught 10 innings total on Sunday, including eight from rookie right-hander Jake Junis, who was selected along with Gallagher in the 2011 MLB Draft. The batterymates believed their comfort level with each other helped as Junis made a superb spot start -- eight strong innings and seven strikeouts, both career highs.

"He's one of the best I've seen," Junis said. "I was so happy for him to make his debut on the day that I was pitching. For him to get that hit in the [eighth], that was awesome."

Added Yost: "It was everything I think he ever dreamed about."

Salvy lands on DL with right intercostal strain

Butera to step in at catcher; Gallagher to fill backup role

August 6, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com

All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will be placed on the 10-day disabled list after suffering an intercostal strain during the Royals' 5-2 loss to the Mariners on Friday night.

With Saturday's game rained out, the Royals waited until Sunday to make the move. They wanted to see if Perez would make what manager Ned Yost called "a miraculous recovery." Catcher Cam Gallagher was added to the 25-man roster in a corresponding move.

Perez is eligible to return on August 15, since he was placed on the DL retroactive to Saturday. Yost said the best-case scenario is Perez will be out for 10 days. The worst-case scenario is a longer time frame: four weeks. The Royals will have a more precise timeline on Monday or Tuesday.

"What happens is these things get swollen and full of fluid," Yost said. "You have to give it some time to get out of there, so you can really take a good look at the extent of the injury."

Perez's injury came with the Royals 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Indians in the American League Central and a half-game ahead of the Rays for the second AL Wild Card spot.

Perez underwent an MRI on his right side after he struck out to end the sixth inning of Friday's loss. He appeared to wince after his swing, and he was replaced by backup catcher Drew Butera.