Daily Clips
July 29, 2017
LOCAL
Royals rumble over Red Sox for 9th straight W
July 29, 2017By Ian Browne and Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Moose becomes fastest Royal to 30 homers
Third baseman's 3-run jack proves difference in KC's 9th straight win
July 29, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Gore recalled by Royals to fill roster spot
Speedster returns to KC after oblique injury delayed callup
July 29, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Cahill to debut as KC looks to run streak to 10
July 29, 2017By Evan Chronis/MLB.com
Mike Moustakas clubs his 30th homer as Royals top Red Sox for ninth straight win
July 29, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
The bullpen rested, Royals call up Terrance Gore to add speed to the roster
July 29, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals trade minor-league pitcher Luke Farrell to the Dodgers
July 29, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals announce plans for selling potential playoff tickets
July 29, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
MINORS
Chasers Earn Split with 5-4 Win
Omaha leave Albuquerque with a win; return home tomorrow for 8-game homestand
July 29, 2017Omaha Storm Chasers
Cardinals rally late for win over Naturals
Springfield scored four runs in the final two innings to claim a 7-4 win over Northwest Arkansas
July 29, 2017Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Kannapolis blanks Legends 7-0
July 29, 2017Lexington Legends
Royals Take Rain-Shortened Game from Mets
Rivero homers in 6-1 win at Kingsport
July 29, 2017By Matt Krause/Burlington Royals
MLB TRANSACTIONS
July 29, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Royals rumble over Red Sox for 9th straight W
July 29, 2017By Ian Browne and Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
There is no stopping the blistering-hot Royals these days.
Kansas City rolled into Fenway Park and knocked the Red Sox out of first place, riding a strong performance by Jason Vargas and a three-run homer by Mike Moustakas to a 4-2 victory in Friday night's opener of a three-game series.
The Royals have won nine in a row and are two games out of first in the American League Central.
"We know we're on a run and we're all clicking at the same time," Moustakas said. "We're a second-half team and we always have been. We can be dangerous."
The Red Sox fell out of first place and a half-game behind the Yankees in the AL East after losing six of their last eight games.
"We have the talent, we're in a bit of a rut right now," said losing pitcher Rick Porcello. "If we go out there and prepare the way we know how to prepare and play hard and play aggressively, that will take us where we need to go. Talent, preparation and hard work and those things are going to trump all, so we stay focused on those things we'll be fine."
Moustakas delivered the biggest hit of the game, smashing a three-run homer -- his 30th of the season -- down the line in right in the fourth to give Kansas City a 4-0 lead.
"The one to Moustakas is really the one that is going to make it hard to sleep tonight," Porcello said. "He's one of the guys in their lineup before the game, didn't want him to beat me. Got in a situation where I had two strikes on him, kind of got in a dogfight, he was fouling some pitches off. I was just trying to drive a fastball in right there and if it missed for a ball, so be it. I didn't have a problem putting him on and it went right into his barrel. That one stinks."
Vargas (13-4, 3.00 ERA) moved into a tie with Red Sox ace Chris Sale for the AL lead in wins, holding Boston to five hits and a run over six innings.
"I was just able to command a few more pitches this time," Vargas said. "I threw some changeups wild early, but then I had better command of it."
Porcello (4-14) gave up six hits and four runs in seven innings. Eduardo Nunez, acquired on Wednesday from the Giants, had a strong debut for Boston, getting two hits and a walk.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Moose's missile: Not only did Moustakas get the Royals out to a comfortable lead with his three-run homer around Pesky's Pole, but he became the fastest in team history to reach the 30-homer plateau. Moustakas is well within reach of Steve Balboni's team record of 36 homers in a season, set in the World Series-winning season of 1985. The shot by Moustakas had an exit velocity of 104.5 mph and a projected distance of 372 feet, according to Statcast™.
"I always feel good about Moose in that situation," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "The way we're swinging the bats, I feel good about anyone up there
Royals get Pedroia in big spot: Though it was mostly a quiet night for the Red Sox offensively, they looked primed to get back in the game in the bottom of the fifth. Rafael Devers got things going with his first Fenway hit, a one-out double to right. Mookie Betts delivered an RBI single and then Nunez came up with his second hit to keep the rally going. The Red Sox had their best RBI man of late at the plate in Dustin Pedroia, who represented the tying run. But Vargas made a big pitch, getting Pedroia on a groundout to end the inning.
"That two-out base hit is elusive, and on a night when we're in a low-run game once again, those are big outs recorded against us," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.
QUOTABLE
"From the beginning, when I first started playing baseball back home, I've always wanted to play in the big leagues and to play in this park. Yeah. It was very emotional for me and it was a dream come true. For a while I've been thinking about what that would feel like to play at Fenway, and it happened today." -- Devers, on his Fenway debut
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Royals' bullpen's streak of not allowing an earned run ended at 30 1/3 innings when the Red Sox pushed across a run in the seventh on Chris Young's triple and Sandy Leon's groundout.
At 20 years, 277 days old, Devers became the youngest Red Sox player with a hit at Fenway Park since Mike Garman in 1969.
WHAT'S NEXT
Royals: Right-hander Trevor Cahill (4-3, 3.69 ERA with San Diego) will make his Royals debut on Saturday against the Red Sox at 6:10 p.m. CT. Cahill last pitched on July 21 against the Giants and gave up five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Red Sox: Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who starts on Saturday, will try to get in a better groove after laboring in his first two outings back from the disabled list. Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in three career starts against the Royals. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Moose becomes fastest Royal to 30 homers
Third baseman's 3-run jack proves difference in KC's 9th straight win
July 29, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas continued his march toward franchise history on Friday night against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, becoming the fastest Royals player to get to 30 home runs in a season.
Moustakas blasted a Rick Porcello fastball on a 3-2 count around Pesky's Pole in right field, a three-run shot that helped the Royals to their ninth straight win, 4-2. Moustakas won a nine-pitch duel before lining a 372-foot home run.
"Porcello was throwing the ball good," Moustakas said. "He's commanding the ball good, just off the plate. I couldn't barrel anything up on him. Finally, I got one a little more over the middle and I was able to get it.
"Honestly, I was just trying to slap something over to left field, get on base. I just got my hands through the zone and got it out of the yard. He threw a couple fastballs on the inner half that I was just able to get a piece of. I was just trying to get it in play. I got some good wood on it."
Added Royals manager Ned Yost, "I always feel good about Moose in that situation. The way we're swinging the bats, I feel good about anyone up there."
Indeed, during the nine-game winning streak, the Royals have out-homered their opponents, 20-2.
Moustakas has been right in the middle of that surge. His homer came in his 364th at-bat of the season, besting Gary Gaetti, who reached the 30-homer plateau in 410 at-bats for Kansas City in 1995.
"Gary Gaetti? Cool. I know him," Moustakas said.
Moustakas also became the 11th player in Royals history to hit 30 or more home runs -- it is the 12th time a Royal has reached 30 or more in a season (Danny Tartabull accomplished the feat in 1987 and '91).
The bigger individual prize is certainly within reach: Steve Balboni's club record of 36 home runs in a season set in 1985.
But Moustakas isn't concerning himself with the historical achievements quite yet.
"I guess it's more meaningful because it came in a win against a great team," Moustakas said. "We know we're on a run and we're all clicking at the same time. We're a second-half team and we always have been. We can be dangerous."
Gore recalled by Royals to fill roster spot
Speedster returns to KC after oblique injury delayed callup
July 29, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals have been looking for a way to add to their two-man bench lately, and with Thursday's day off and the bullpen back in order, the time was right to call up speedster Terrance Gore.
Recalling Gore from Triple-A Omaha on Friday was the corresponding move for optioning right-hander Kevin McCarthy on Thursday.
Gore had been dealing with a strained left oblique over the past two weeks, or he may have been called up earlier.
"Because our bullpen is in order right now, we can afford the extra player," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We were going to do it two weeks ago [when Billy Burns got called up instead], but [Gore] went into the training room that day and said [his oblique] was hurting.
"But now, I don't think there's any danger of reinjuring it."
Gore, who has 17 steals this season in the Minors, said he injured the oblique on a swing.
"Too many swings, I guess," Gore said. "It feels better. It doesn't affect me running at all."
Gore said he, too, had a feeling he was getting the call two weeks ago.
"I said I don't think I can make it," Gore said. "It was aggravating. I couldn't move, even a cough made it hurt. It was a setback for two weeks."
Gore on Friday also recalled his first and only home run as a professional in 2,035 plate appearances earlier this season with Triple-A Omaha.
"It was like I was dreaming," Gore said. "I got around second base [on the home run trot] and it was like, 'This can't be real.'"
Cahill happy to contend
Right-hander Trevor Cahill, acquired from San Diego earlier this week, said he didn't get too wrapped up in all the trade rumors. Cahill will make his first Royals start Saturday at Fenway Park.
"I did for a little bit, but then I stopped," Cahill said, who spent the end of 2015 and all of '16 with the Cubs. "I knew [getting traded] was a possibility with the team kind of rebuilding and the Dodgers way out front. It's just nice to be with a contender again, which I was able to do that last two years."
Farewell Farrell
The Royals on Friday traded Minor League right-hander Luke Farrell to the Dodgers for cash considerations. Farrell was designated for assignment earlier this week.
Farrell, 26, was 7-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts) for Omaha.
Cahill to debut as KC looks to run streak to 10
July 29, 2017By Evan Chronis/MLB.com
Newly acquired starter Trevor Cahill will make his debut for the Royals Saturday night when they face the Red Sox in the second game of a three-game series at Fenway Park.
The right-hander, who was traded from the Padres on Monday in a deal that also brought pitchers Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer to Kansas City, will be looking to pilot the Royals to their 10th straight victory after they won the series opener on Friday.
Cahill went 4-3 in 11 starts for San Diego this season, posting a 3.69 ERA. In his final start for the Padres, the righty recorded a no-decision against the Giants after giving up six runs (five earned) in 3 2/3 innings.
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 3.89 ERA) will make his third start for the Red Sox since coming back from a stint on the disabled list with a right knee subluxation. He gave up six hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Mariners his last time out, taking the loss.
The southpaw was originally scheduled to start in Sunday's series finale, but he was moved up a day due to David Price missing Friday's start after being placed on the disabled list.
Rodriguez will be glad to be back pitching at Fenway Park, where he's 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA in four starts this season. The lefty has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his home starts in 2017.
Three things to know about this game
• Cahill is familiar with the Red Sox newest addition, Eduardo Nunez, who was traded from the Giants on Wednesday. Both players started the year in the National League West, and Nunez is 4-for-13 against the righty.
• In the few times they've faced each other, Rodriguez has continually gotten the better of Lorenzo Cain. The Royals center fielder is 0-for-9 lifetime against the left-hander.
• Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in three career starts vs. the Royals.
Mike Moustakas clubs his 30th homer as Royals top Red Sox for ninth straight win
July 29, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
To hit a home run in the major leagues, a baseball player must possess a potent combination of tools. Enough hand-eye coordination to barrel a 95 mph fastball. Enough brute strength in the legs to launch a baseball 400 feet. Enough experience and acumen to solve the best pitchers in the world.
To hit one home run requires an astonishing degree of timing, vision, power and mechanics, the hands working in perfect synchronicity, a round bat catching a round ball square. But to hit 30 in the season’s first 101 games demands a level of consistency, talent and raw power never seen before in a Royals uniform.
In 49 summers in Kansas City, across generations of baseball, no hitter has clubbed home runs like Mike Moustakas, a 28-year-old third baseman who ripped his 30th blast of the season on Friday as the Royals edged the Boston Red Sox 4-2 at Fenway Park. Not George Brett, the only Hall of Famer in franchise history. Not Big John Mayberry, the imposing slugger from the late 1970s. And not even Steve Balboni, the mustachied , blue collar owner of the most infamous home run record in the game.
All those men launched baseballs out of stadiums at an enviable pace, leaving their imprint on club history. Yet none could match the present-day pace of Moustakas, who on Friday became the fastest Royal ever to 30 home runs in a season, roping a three-run shot off Boston starter Rick Porcello in the top of the fourth inning.
“I just got my hands through the zone,” Moustakas said.
The smashed baseball was the climax of a nine-pitch at-bat, a professional battle between pitcher and hitter. It soared out toward right field and curved around the famed Pesky’s Pole, traveling an estimated 372 feet before disappearing into the seats. As a round of Moose calls echoed across Fenway Park — the sound blending in with a cascade of boos — the Royals led 4-0, positioned to run their winning streak to a season-high nine games.
“Moose came up big there,” said Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas.
“I always feel good about Moose in that situation,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.
The Royals (54-47) moved to seven games over .500 for the first time this season, keeping pace with first-place Cleveland, who remained two games ahead after their eighth straight win. The Royals’ torrid run has pushed them back into an American League Wild Card spot and matched a nine-game streak from last August. For nine games, the Royals have run roughshod over a rotating cast of opponents.
In nine games, they have out-homered the competition 20-2, recording two more long balls on Friday night. In the same span, the bullpen has posted a 0.71 ERA.
“Everybody is clicking at the same time,” Moustakas said. “This is a second-half team. We’re pretty dangerous when it comes down to it.”
On Friday, Moustakas hit his 30th homer in his 364th at-bat of the season. Before this season, the previous fastest to the mark was third baseman Gary Gaetti, who reached 30 in 410 at-bats on his way to 35 homers in 1995. In the moments after the victory, Moustakas learned that little factoid. A smile formed on his face.
“Nice,” he said. “I know Gary Gaetti.”
At this moment, it appears when, and not if, Moustakas will smash Balboni’s club record of 36, set in 1985. But for now, the focus remains on a Royals team that has brushed off a 1-7 stretch in the middle of the July and responded by playing its most ferocious baseball of the season. The focus remains on moments like this one from the fourth inning on Friday.