Daily Clips
May 1, 2018
LOCAL
Staked to early lead, Hammel allows eight runs
April 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Moustakas says bruised forearm nothing serious
April 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Unlike last season, Soler 'not chasing much'
April 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
What else the Royals said after losing to the Red Sox 10-6
April 30, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Hammel, Royals squander early lead and lose to Red Sox 10-6
April 30, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
X-rays come back negative on Royals' Mike Moustakas, who was hit by a pitch in Boston
April 30, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Did Royals' Salvador Perez join the Fun Police? Writers around country think so
April 30, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
The Royals struggled to sell tickets in April. Weather wasn't the only issue
April 30, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Royals say their run with KayCee 'The W Guy' is over; critical Facebook post surfaces
April 30, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
The Royals are bad with the bases loaded, and it surfaced again in a 10-6 loss to the Boston Red Sox
April 30, 2018By Rustin Dodd/The Athletic
Fired Royals personality KayCee, ‘the W Guy,’ holds no grudge after his dismissal
April 30, 2018By Sean McDowell/FOX 4 KC
Looking for a win, Royals roll out new $30 per month ticket option
April 30, 2018By Leslie Collins/Kansas City Business Journal
MINORS
Chasers Shut Down by Alzolay in 10-3 Defeat
Cubs take series opener at Principal Park
April 30, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Monday sunshine spoiled in Tulsa in 8-2 loss
April 30, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
NATIONAL
Corey Seager to miss rest of year
Dodgers' star shortstop to undergo Tommy John surgery
April 30, 2018By Ken Gurnick/MLB.com
Ray to DL with oblique strain; Bracho recalled
April 30, 2018By Steve Gilbert/MLB.com
T-t-t-ten things that we learned from April
May 1, 2018By Jayson Stark/The Athletic
Biggest surprises -- good or bad -- one month into MLB season
April 30, 2018By Casey L. Moore/USA Today Sports
MLB TRANSACTIONS
May 1, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Staked to early lead, Hammel allows eight runs
April 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The Royals' offense continued to show signs of life, but it wasn't enough to overcome right-hander Jason Hammel's shakiest start of the season.
Hammel gave up eight runs over 4 2/3 innings and the Royals fell to the Red Sox, 10-6, on a rainy Monday night at Fenway Park.
Hammel, who had a 2.33 ERA over his last four starts, was staked to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when the Royals took advantage of three walks and a hit batter by Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez. But Hammel gave up a home run to Mitch Moreland in the second inning and then a grand slam to Xander Bogaerts in a five-run third.
"For some reason, both [starting] pitchers [struggled]," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Maybe it was the weather with that heavy misty-type rain. … I thought Jason's first couple innings were good, but then he started to fight it himself a little bit in the third. The grand slam was a pitch that was up and in, which I don't think he was trying to go there. He was just battling command a little bit."
Trailing, 6-3, the Royals fought back in the fourth on a hit batter, and RBI doubles from Alcides Escobar and Whit Merrifield.
"We've been getting some hits with runners in scoring position," Yost said. "Took advantage of some wildness in the first inning, scored three runs. Brought it back within one there after they scored their five.We battled back to keep us in the game."
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas was hit in the right arm by a pitch in the first inning and later removed from the game. X-rays were negative and Moustakas was diagnosed with a contusion on his right lateral forearm. He is listed as day to day.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Rough third inning: Hammel was in good shape in the third inning, getting the first two hitters out. After a single by Andrew Benintendi, Hammel got ahead of Hanley Ramirez 0-2 and had thrown just 41 pitches. Then it all fell apart. Ramirez doubled and then J.D. Martinez, down 1-2 in the count, drew a walk. Hammel then walked Moreland when a 3-2 two-seam fastball was just barely low, forcing in a run. Hammel then threw a 3-2 two-seamer to Bogaerts, who crushed it over the Green Monster.
"Honestly, they put some really good at-bats together there, stretched the pitch count there," Hammel said. "Xander put a good swing on a pitch. It wasn't a very well-executed pitch, but I wasn't getting very many swings on the slider, which was surprising. Any time you can get four runs on one swing, you can do some damage. That was pretty much the story."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Royals right-hander Scott Barlow finally made his Major League debut on Monday. He had been the team's 26th man for two previous doubleheaders and had warmed up in Kansas City over the weekend but had not appeared in a game. Barlow struck out the first man he faced, Christian Vazquez, and pitched a scoreless inning. Barlow was nicked for a run in his second inning of work, but he followed that up with another scoreless frame.
"I got to warm up in Kansas City and my heart was pounding then," Barlow said. "But being at Boston and at Fenway, your heart is coming out of your chest."
Barlow, who grew up in Connecticut, had his wife and mother in attendance, as well as his brother, who is a Red Sox fan.
"I was nervous tonight, but in a good way," Barlow said. "Tim Hill told me, 'You're going to be amped up, but use it to your advantage.' I took that to heart."
UP NEXT
Right-hander Jakob Junis (3-2, 3.34 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals on Tuesday against the Red Sox at 6:10 p.m. CT. Junis took the loss Thursday against the White Sox, giving up a career-high five home runs over 5 2/3 innings. Left-hander Chris Sale (2-1, 2.31 ERA) will pitch for the Red Sox.
Moustakas says bruised forearm nothing serious
April 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas left Monday's 10-6 loss to the Red Sox with a lateral right forearm contusion after being hit by a pitch from Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez in the first inning.
X-rays taken at Fenway Park were negative. Moustakas said after the game that the injury was not serious.
Moustakas stayed in the game after the hit by pitch and scored a run, but in the bottom of the first, the Royals replaced Moustakas as the designated hitter with Abraham Almonte.
There was some confusion about the lineup change, because the original lineup for the Royals had Moustakas at third base, and Cheslor Cuthbert as the DH. So when Cuthbert was seen at third base in the bottom of the first, the assumption was that the Royals had forfeited the DH.
But that was not the case. The Red Sox and Royals' public relations departments determined that just before game time, the Royals switched Moustakas to DH and Cuthbert to third base, and that was the lineup card presented to the umpires.
Unlike last season, Soler 'not chasing much'
April 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
This is the Jorge Soler that the Royals' front office envisioned when they traded for him at the 2016 Winter Meetings.
Soler, a 26-year-old right fielder, had fans and scouts puzzled last season when he hit just .144 in 35 games in an injury-plagued season.
But Soler, whom the Royals acquired from the Cubs for fan favorite and closer Wade Davis, has been tantalizingly good so far in 2018. Following Monday's 10-6 loss to the Red Sox, Soler was hitting .304 with two home runs and six RBIs and a team-leading .434 on-base percentage.
"I'm very intrigued by him," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Last year was such a struggle up here for him. But we sent him down [to Triple-A Omaha] and he put up really good numbers [with 24 home runs and a .952 OPS].
"I knew if we could just get him consistent at-bats up here he would do OK."
What has been most impressive to Yost and his coaching staff is Soler's plate discipline. Soler has drawn a team-high 18 walks, and entering Monday's game, he had seen 4.46 pitches per plate appearance, fourth best in the American League. Matt Davidson of the White Sox has seen the most at 4.56.
"He's not chasing much of anything," Yost said. "Occasionally he'll chase a bad pitch, but not consistently."
The plate discipline is by design. Soler said that he is watching more video of opponents and is focused on going after hitters' pitches only.
"I'm very proud of that," Soler said through interpreter and coach Pedro Grifol. "Almost every at-bat, I'm 1-2, 2-2. I'm prideful to extend ABs. Thanks to Pedro, too, who's helped me a lot, scouting pitchers before the game. I kind of know what the pitcher is going to do with me, which isn't something I did before."
Grifol paused for a minute, then said, "I can vouch for that. He's putting in the work. Not so much the physical work, but he's putting in the mental preparation that is necessary."
Of course, there are still issues with Soler defensively. He has dropped two routine fly balls already this season, and taken bad routes on others. But he did make a four-star catch, according to Statcast™, on Sunday.
"I know he's a work in progress in the outfield," Yost said, "but he's gotten so much better from last year. He's going to make mistakes out there, but he'll learn from it. And he's going to keep working."
Soler vows he will improve, too.
"I feel like I've gotten better in the field," Soler said. "I'm more on-time with jumps on the ball."
For now, Yost is simply enjoying watching the development.
"Pretty amazing to watch him," Yost said. "I was always amazed watching Carlos Santana. He would walk 100 times a year. He'd hit .220, but he'd always have a .380 or .390 on-base percentage. Adam Dunn was like that. But [Soler] looks like the complete package. A lot of walks, good average with power."
What else the Royals said after losing to the Red Sox 10-6
April 30, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
The Royals lost to the Boston Red Sox 10-6 on Monday at Fenway Park, squandering an early lead.
Ned Yost
On Jason Hammel
(Boston starter Eduardo) Rodriguez, even from the first inning, he was struggling with his command. We took a little bit of advantage of it with some good at-bats and scored three runs. I thought Jason’s first couple innings were good but then started to fight it himself a little bit in the third.
The grand slam (by Xander Bogaerts) was a pitch that was up and in, which I don’t think he was trying to go there. He was just battling command a little bit.
The just-missed pitch that walked in a run?
I’m not sure. It’s hard to tell from this dugout a little bit. I don’t think Rodriguez was missing by much either. It was just one of those nights.
Offense coming alive
We’ve been getting some hits with runners in scoring position. Took advantage of some wildness in the first inning, scored three runs. Brought it back within one there after they scored their five.
We battled back and scored two to keep us in the game.
Jason Hammel
Missing a little bit on 3-2?
Honestly, they put some really good at-bats together there, stretched the pitch count there, Xander put a good swing on a pitch. It wasn’t a very well-executed pitch, but I wasn’t getting very many swings on the slider, which was surprising. Any time you can get four runs on one swing, you can do some damage. That’s was pretty much the story.
Moreland pitch?
I asked (home plate umpire CB Bucknor) and he said it was just down. In that situation, I feel pretty comfortable with that. Just couldn’t quite get there.
Scott Barlow
How'd it feel to get the call?
I got to warm up in Kansas City. My heart was pounding then. But being at Boston and at Fenway, your heart is coming out of your chest.
Who was here?
My wife and my mom and my mom’s boyfriend. And my brother, who is a big Red Sox fan.
How'd you feel on the mound? (He struck out the first batter he faced.)
Nervous, but in a good way. Tim Hill told me, "You’re going to be amped up but use it your advantage." I took that to heart.
Hammel, Royals squander early lead and lose to Red Sox 10-6
April 30, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
An early lead against the best team in baseball went for naught as the Royals lost 10-6 to the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
The Royals’ evening at Fenway Park began with promise. They took advantage of Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez’s erraticism in the first inning, drawing a pair of bases-loaded walks and forcing his pitch count up to 35 in the frame.
But Alex Gordon grounded into an inning-ending double play before they could exact further damage.
On a night that featured Xander Bogaerts hitting the Red Sox’s sixth grand slam of the season and Royals starting pitcher Jason Hammel surrendering eight earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, the double play was hardly the most egregious moment of the Royals’ 21st loss.
But it was a near-perfect microcosm of the Royals’ season: Now 28 games in, the Royals are one of the worst teams in baseball when it comes to hitting with the bases-loaded. When Jon Jay hit a sharp grounder to Boston second baseman Eduardo Nunez in the first inning and was awarded an infield hit, he gave the Royals just their fifth hit in 28 at-bats with the bases loaded. Their .178 batting average in such situations ranks in the bottom 10 in the majors.
Three of those hits have come in the last six games.
“We’ve been scoring runs (in those situations),” manager Ned Yost said. “I was pleased with three runs. We had a situation yesterday, bases loaded, nobody out and we didn’t get any in. We got bases loaded, nobody out, we got three in. I think we’re making headway.”
It wasn’t enough. The Royals held onto their lead for a fleeting two innings. Hammel even shook off Mitch Moreland’s leadoff home run in the second and retired the next five batters he faced to retain a 3-1 advantage.
But the Red Sox unraveled Hammel in the third inning. With two outs, they strung together a pair of hits and back-to-back walks. Then Bogaerts drove the eighth pitch of his at-bat over the Green Monster in left field for a grand slam that gave the Red Sox a 6-3 lead.
One theme emerged, Hammel said: An inability to get the Red Sox to swing at his slider. He entered the game inducing 44.5 percent swings with his breaking pitch, according to Brooks Baseball, but he struggled to fool the Red Sox in the third inning.
The outing was a departure from Hammel’s recent starts. He entered the game with a 3.38 ERA, the second-lowest in the starting rotation. After a 2017 campaign in which he struggled to keep fly-balls in the ballpark, he’d only allowed one home run in his first 32 innings.
The Red Sox, who rank second in baseball with a .451 slugging percentage, hit two homers off Hammel.
“I don’t know whether I was doing something, maybe tipping or whatnot,” Hammel said. “But usually I get more swings than in that inning. They did a good job, put up some really good at-bats and stretched me out. I don’t know, I probably threw 40 pitches that inning. That was a tough one.”
The Royals attempted a rally in the fourth inning, pulling within a run of a 6-6 tie. Alcides Escobar drove home Gordon on a double and Escobar immediately scored on Whit Merrifield’s two-base hit.
Escobar later scored in the ninth inning when Merrifield knocked his second double of the night into center field. The pair had three hits each and accounted for two-thirds of the Royals’ offense, which mustered nine hits.
But their efforts were dwarfed by a Red Sox offense that countered with four more runs. Boston scored twice against reliever Scott Barlow, who made his major-league debut in the sixth inning. The 6-foot-3 right-hander, who grew up in Connecticut, faced 15 batters in three innings, allowing five hits along the way.
“Did a nice job, coming in here in a tough place to make your major-league debut,” Yost said. “They’ve got a good offense over there, so he did a nice job.”
Meanwhile, the Boston bullpen held the Royals to four hits after Rodriguez departed at the end of the fourth inning.
The Royals stranded seven men on base and dropped to 7-21, keeping pace with the Cincinnati Reds (7-22) in baseball's cellar.