A two-run Angels lead in the seventh inning vanished on that play and the Angels lost, 7-5, to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night. It was very clear.
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“The question wasn’t if the throw impeded him or he impeded the throw”. It wasn’t if he was running inside. According to baseball rule 4.19, a manager can protest when he believes there has been an error made by an umpire during the course of a game. [Cuzzi] admitted that [Mondesi] was outside the line. In Phil’s head he wasn’t in jeopardy because he was stepping toward the bag, which is wrong. That’s the basis of the protest. “I would not have protested if I was not 100 percent correct on this. This is a misinterpretation of a rule”.
Shoemaker questioned whether he should have thrown to first. Perez sure knows how to get himself upstaged. They want to see us all continue to stay together. “These guys are a real, real close group”, Yost said.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia argued vociferously with the umpires for about five minutes before they then went to the headsets to talk to the replay center for another six minutes. “Soon as feels like he’s good to go, he’ll be back”.
Because the play involved a judgment call, it was not reviewable.
Gee (3-4) was charged with five runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings. Royals starter Danny Duffy gave up three runs in six innings. “We’re trying to get another right-handed bat in there and get Greg some at-bats”, Scioscia said.
And perhaps even more impressive is that he looked like the same Tyler Skaggs we all saw break out during his rookie season back in 2014. The second run scored on pitcher Jose Alvarerz’s throwing error.
Yunel Escobar went 5 for 5 and drew a walk.
Jefry Marte had two doubles and a RBI for the Angels, while Johnny Giavotella had his second consecutive three-hit game. Perez’s one-out infield single started it, and Giavotella walked.
Escobar finished with his fourth five-hit game, his first since June 18, 2015. Gordon, who had been 3-for-24 on the homestand, singled to right, advancing Perez to third. Gordon and Orlando again came around to score. Duffy allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out five.
At 48-51, the Royals trail first-place Cleveland by nine games in the AL Central. That’s adding a little bit of anxiety and urgency to their game. “Just relax”, Yost said of his message in the brief meeting. The players have some anxiety, he said, because several Royals are being mentioned in trade speculation stories.
The Angels designated outfielder Todd Cunningham for assignment to make room for Skaggs. The Angels return home Thursday to face the Boston Red Sox, who will start LHP David Price.
Josh Hamilton was also batting cleanup, Mike Scioscia and Jerry Dipoto were on the same page and Jered Weaver was still an ace.
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“It’s great to have a four-run lead, especially against a team like that”, Santiago said.
