Daily Clips
June 1, 2017
LOCAL
Royals' rally for Kennedy comes up short
June 1, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan and Jason Beck/MLB.com
Cuthbert's timing at plate sharp in rare start
Reserve third baseman notches 2 hits, 2 RBIs vs. Tigers
June 1, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Skoglund earns 2nd look after dazzling debut
Royals' No. 3 prospect to face Indians on Sunday
May 31, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Salvy has pole position in AL catcher voting
May 31, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Hosmer rips line-drive single for 1,000th hit
May 31, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
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Vargas revisits Indians' lineup in opener
June 1, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Ian Kennedy struggles again in Royals’ 6-5 loss to Tigers
May 31, 2017By Sam McDowell/KC Star
Vahe Gregorian: Nothing to be gained by Royals fire sale now
May 31, 2017By Vahe Gregorian/KC Star
Royals manager Ned Yost struggling to find playing time for Jorge Soler
May 31, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
MINORS
Griffin Dazzles In Debut In 5-1 Win At Frisco
Naturals win streak moves to four straight
May 31, 2017By Naturals PR Department
Blue Crew Fall in Rain-Shortened Series Opener
Rocks and Dash Called in Bottom of Seventh Inning
May 31, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Asheville's big inning leads to 12-5 win
May 31, 2017By Lexington Legends
MLB TRANSACTIONS
June 1, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Royals' rally for Kennedy comes up short
June 1, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan and Jason Beck/MLB.com
The Tigers ended a grueling 11-game, 10-day road trip on a high note thanks to an early offensive outburst and some stingy relief. J.D. Martinez's two-run double fueled a four-run third inning, building a lead that Warwick Saupold and three other relievers held with 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball for a 6-5 win over the Royals on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Neither starter, Matthew Boyd or Ian Kennedy, survived to see the end of the fourth inning. Four first-inning hits, including a Cheslor Cuthbert two-run single, built a 3-0 Royals lead before three Ian Kennedy walks and back-to-back doubles from Martinez and Justin Upton led Detroit back. But Alex Avila's fourth-inning solo homer off Seth Maness ended up being the difference.
"Winning today had nothing to do really with earlier in the trip. It was a matter of getting back to winning series," Avila said. "But it always feels good getting on a plane after a win."
Kennedy (0-5) gave up five runs on four hits in three innings. Boyd lasted just 3 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits in his fourth consecutive subpar start, but Saupold (1-0) delivered three scoreless innings of relief on one hit with eight consecutive groundouts for his second career Major League victory. Justin Wilson stranded the potential tying run in the ninth for his fifth save.
"[Kennedy] just hit a wall, really started laboring," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He had two pretty quick outs. He ended up getting a groundout, a walk and then a strikeout. You think, 'OK, he's going to cruise through the third.' Then a walk and a walk and then the double. He just really started to labor there trying to get that third out in the third inning."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Double-double: After Kennedy walked three Tigers to load the bases in the third inning, Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez hit a double to right field that drove in two runs and tied the game. The hit was measured at 110.9 mph, per Statcast™. On the next pitch, Tigers left fielder Upton hit a double to left-center, scoring Victor and J.D. Martinez as the Tigers took a 5-3 lead.
"Wish I could blame my [hamstring] but it felt pretty good," said Kennedy, who made his third start since coming off the disabled list with a hamstring strain. "It's frustrating. I was just missing a ball off to each side. I beat myself."
Comeback snubbed: The Royals cut the Tigers' lead to 6-5 in the eighth inning when right fielder Jorge Bonifacio scored from third base on a wild pitch. But with the potential tying run on second and two out, Tigers reliever Alex Wilson induced Cuthbert to ground out to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.
QUOTABLE
"Once you kind of get to slow the game down a little bit, you start to control. You're not trying to do too much. I think the previous outings, I was trying to do a little bit much. I just worked on my breathing between innings and then while I was out there, too. Just slowed the game and I felt under control." -- Saupold, on his outing
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield singled in the eighth inning, extending his career-high hitting streak to 16 games. That's the longest streak by a Royal this season and the longest active hitting streak in the Major Leagues.
• Nicholas Castellanos' fifth-inning double was the 100th of his career. At 25 years, 88 days, he became the ninth-youngest player to reach 100 doubles with the Tigers. The eight players ahead of him include Ty Cobb (22-228), Al Kaline (22-230), Hank Greenberg (24-117), Travis Fryman (24-125), Harvey Kuenn (24-288), Barney McCosky (25-20), Harry Heilmann (25-41) and Alan Trammell (25-78).
HOZ TO 1,000
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer singled to left in the third inning -- that was hit No. 1,000 for the 27-year-old. He became the 11th player in franchise history to reach 1,000.
WHAT'S NEXT
Tigers: With the three-city road trip complete, the Tigers get a well-deserved off-day Thursday before opening a six-game homestand Friday at Comerica Park with a 7:10 p.m. ET game against the White Sox. Michael Fulmer (5-3, 2.65), who has lost 1-0 and 3-0 decisions his last two starts, will try to continue his stingy pitching and pull for run support when he faces the Sox for the second time in a week.
Royals: After an off-day Thursday, the Royals open a three-game set starting Friday at 7:15 p.m. CT with the Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Left-hander Jason Vargas (6-3, 2.39 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals. He gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings last Saturday against the Tribe in a 5-2 win.
Cuthbert's timing at plate sharp in rare start
Reserve third baseman notches 2 hits, 2 RBIs vs. Tigers
June 1, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
This season has been quite an adjustment for Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert. As a rookie in 2016, Cuthbert filled in for the injured Mike Moustakas and played 128 games, hitting .274 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs.
But with Moustakas back, playing time has been hard to come by for Cuthbert. Also hard is keeping his timing at the plate.
So, Cuthbert was encouraged after his rare start Wednesday in the Royals' 6-5 loss to the Tigers. He delivered two hits and two RBIs with a run scored.
Cuthbert delivered a big two-out, two-RBI single in the first, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead.
"He did a great job," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He always plays good defense. It was a good night for him. He's seeing the ball better."
Cuthbert was just happy to produce some runs in that first at-bat off Tigers starter Matthew Boyd.
"It felt really good," Cuthbert said. "I just went looking for a pitch I could handle and he gave it to me."
In the fourth, Cuthbert doubled and scored off Boyd.
"He left that one up," Cuthbert said.
But the at-bat Cuthbert really wanted back came in the eighth. With the potential tying run on second and two out, Cuthbert rolled out softy to first.
"Yeah, I was just looking to get a base hit to tie the game," he said. "It didn't happen."
Keeping his timing has been the biggest challenge for Cuthbert this season.
"I just keep trying to get my work in every day," he said. "I work in the cage. I watch a lot of video. That helps.
"It's hard not playing every day. But I got to get used to it."
Skoglund earns 2nd look after dazzling debut
Royals' No. 3 prospect to face Indians on Sunday
May 31, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
In perhaps the least surprising move all season, the Royals announced they will give rookie left-hander Eric Skoglund another start, Sunday against the Indians.
That spot in the rotation was TBA until Skoglund's brilliant outing Tuesday night, when he shut out the Tigers on two hits through 6 1/3 innings.
Teammates and coaches were still buzzing about the Major League debut for the Royals' No. 3 prospect.
"And that's a really tough lineup he had to navigate," Royals manager Ned Yost said of the Tigers. "The fact that he went out and banged strikes ... there was no trepidation or nervousness. Pretty impressive for a guy making his first start."
Yost was most impressed with Skoglund's composure throughout the day Tuesday.
"It was a whirlwind deal for him," Yost said. "He gets told on Monday afternoon he's going to start. He gets here -- his whole family is here -- and he has to cram in a scouting report, do his routine and go out and perform. He did so admirably."
But Yost, as happy as he was for Skoglund, did issue him a warning about this Sunday.
"I told him last night, 'Hey, you did a great job. But don't expect it to be easy every time you step out there,'" Yost said. "And I said, 'You made it look easy, but make sure you understand it was a magical night.'”
Salvy has pole position in AL catcher voting
May 31, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals catcher Salvador Perez is the leading vote-getter at his position in the first update of the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot.
Perez, a four-time All-Star, has 420,268 votes, leading second-place Welington Castillo of the Orioles by more than 80,000 votes.
"It feels pretty good," Perez said. "Thank you to the fans. Hopefully they keep voting for me and my teammates. And we'll go see."
Being voted in for the All-Star Game means much to Perez.
"It's a lot of fun," Perez said. "I've got four. The first one was Mariano Rivera's last All-Star Game. The second one was Derek Jeter, a guy you know's going to be in the Hall of Fame. To be around that moment, that day, it's a little exciting."
Eric Hosmer, last year's MVP of the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, was fourth in voting at first base with 225,989. Being a part of the All-Star Game, which is in Miami, would mean a trip home for Hosmer, who lives in South Miami. He trails the leader, Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers, by about 100,000 votes.
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 29, at 10:59 p.m. CT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of the 2017 All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. Then on Tuesday, July 11, while watching the 2017 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.
Hosmer rips line-drive single for 1,000th hit
May 31, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
With a third-inning line-drive single to left field off Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer recorded the 1,000th hit of his career Wednesday night in Detroit's 6-5 win.
Hosmer, 27, became the 11th Royal in franchise history to reach 1,000 hits.
The Top 10:
1. George Brett 3,154
2. Frank White 2,006
3. Amos Otis 1,977
4. Willie Wilson 1,968
5. Hal McRae 1,924
6. Mike Sweeney 1,398
7. Billy Butler 1,238
8. Alex Gordon 1,265
9. Joe Randa 1,084
10. Fred Patek 1,036
Vargas revisits Indians' lineup in opener
June 1, 2017By Wilson Alexander/MLB.com
Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin has pitched well in two starts against the Royals this season, collecting a 1.13 ERA. He pitched a complete game -- his only one of the season -- against them in his last start. In eight other starts this season, Tomlin has a whopping 7.65 ERA.
On Friday, Tomlin (3-6, 5.79 ERA) will face the Royals again as Cleveland plays Kansas City in the opener of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Opposite Tomlin will be Royals left-hander Jason Vargas (6-3, 2.39 ERA), enjoying one of the best seasons of his career.
Tomlin and Vargas are both starting against the last club they faced. Last Saturday in Cleveland, Vargas surrendered a season-high nine hits but only two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a Royals victory.
"I'm someone who pitches with my game plan," said Vargas, who has a 1.54 ERA in two starts against the Tribe this year. "You obviously know that they've seen you and that you're one of the last guys they saw from this team, so that's in the back of your mind, but I'm not going to change anything."
Tomlin's success against the Royals isn't contained to this season. Last year, Tomlin went 3-0 with a 2.76 ERA in four starts against the Royals. Overall, Tomlin finished the season with a 4.40 ERA and 13 wins. Only one Royal with more than 10 at-bats against Tomlin has a batting average higher than .300 -- catcher Salvador Perez, who has batted .514 (18-for-35) against Tomlin.
Things to know about this game
• Of the nine hits Vargas allowed in his last start, just two had an exit velocity of 95 mph or harder. Three, including a Daniel Robertson bunt single, were below 75 mph, accounting for three of Vargas' six slowest hits allowed this year.
• Although the Royals took two of three games against the Indians when they played last weekend, Kansas City is 7-17 against American League Central opponents this season. Last season, the Royals were 46-30 within the division.
• After starting the season with a .185 average through April 22, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer turned things around, batting .367 in May to raise his line to .294/.352/.431. At Kauffman Stadium, Hosmer has reached base safely in 33 straight games.
Ian Kennedy struggles again in Royals’ 6-5 loss to Tigers
May 31, 2017By Sam McDowell/KC Star
The winless streak commenced on Sept. 16, five days after Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy blanked the White Sox over six innings. It spanned a dozen of his starts since, interrupted by an injury and complemented by league-worst run support.
Some 262 days later, a three-run cushion wasn’t enough to halt it.
The Royals struck for an unlikely first-inning outburst to back Kennedy, only to watch it fade in a 6-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.
Kennedy’s winless span has reached 13. The Royals (22-30) squandered an opportunity to win back-to-back series against fellow AL Central opponents, with Cleveland set to arrive in Kansas City on Friday.
“Physically, you feel good for the first time a month (or) three or four weeks, and then it just unravels in the third inning,” Kennedy said. “It’s not the way I pictured it.”
The Royals provided the early spark, and then nearly matched it late.
Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out with the potential tying run on second base in the eighth inning after Whit Merrifield lengthened his league-best hitting streak to 16 games.
Alex Gordon lined a one-out single through the infield in the ninth, but Alcides Escobar followed with a strikeout and Tigers closer Justin Wilson induced a game-ending pop-out from Lorenzo Cain.
Royals manager Ned Yost defended his decision to stick with Escobar, who had two hits to raise his average to .186, against the left-handed Wilson.
“Are you saying I should pinch-hit for Esky there? He’s got two hits tonight. He had two hits last night and a sacrifice fly,” Yost said. “He’s been swinging the bat better.”
The lack of a late-inning breakthrough wasted that early spark. A Royals team that accounted for just 11 first-inning runs in its initial 51 games crossed three over the plate in the opening frame.
Merely an hour later, the lead was gone, undone by extra-base hits and self-inflicted wounds that formulated the Tigers’ four-run third inning.
Kennedy walked three and unleashed 41 pitches in the decisive inning, which Tigers outfielder Justin Upton finished off with a two-run double before departing the game because of a leg injury. His second two-base hit in as many trips to the plate gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead. They never trailed again.