Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez hits a two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Karns during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, July 9, 2015. “This does not, which is a good thing”, Yost said.
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Gordon was injured in the fourth inning of Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay. The last time that occurred in a major league game was May 26, 1997, when the Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Tony Womack did it.
Paulo Orlando belted a game-ending grand slam for Kansas City to beat Tampa Bay 9-5 in the opener of a doubleheader, and Alcides Escobar’s bases-clearing double helped them to a 7-1 win over the Rays in the nightcap on Tuesday. After the Rays trimmed the Royals’ lead to 4-3 in the fifth, Kansas City responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Greg Holland was summoned to get the final two outs and pick up his 17th save in 19 opportunities, but not before giving up a two-run single to third baseman Evan Longoria.
After allowing just four earned runs in 46 2/3 innings on the road, the Royals roughed up Archer for nine earned runs in six innings. Gordon singled into shallow center to get Dyson home.
The Rays, in a nightmare of a skid, suffered its worst series of the year against the Kansas City Royals.
Astros starter Brett Oberholtzer (2-2) was nearly as impressive, holding the Indians scoreless until they broke out for three runs in the sixth inning: touted rookie Francisco Lindor tied the game with a leadoff homer. With his impending free agency, you had to wonder, even if just for a second, if we might have seen another home-grown star play his last game as a Royal.
Cheslor Cuthbert started the rally with a one-out walk, and Escobar lined a sharp single off Archer’s ankle.
The Kansas City Royals’ win was soured by an injury to All-Star Alex Gordon, while Clayton Kershaw led the Los Angeles Dodgers. Designated hitter Kendrys Morales upped his team-leading RBI total to 57 with a sacrifice fly that scored Hosmer. “Overall just the ability to be able to mix it up throughout the game and keep all three pitches throughout the game I think was what worked for me, and ultimately throwing strikes”. Pierzynski went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI for Atlanta.
It was the light-hitting Dyson’s first homer since June 25, 2014, a span of 252 at-bats. He’s a respected veteran, a team player and he can fill multiple needs by stepping in at second base and multiple outfield positions.
PITCHING Indiana: RHP Jake Odorizzi came through his Wednesday bullpen session fine and was set to come off the DL and start Saturday after missing more than a month after an oblique strain. 500 after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 8-3 on Thursday.
Hernandez (11-5) only once faced trouble and reached the 11-win mark before the All-Star Game for the second time in his career.
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The Royals will be at full strength on the mound once Jason Vargas returns from a left hip flexor sprain after the All-Star break. He will make a rehab start for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Monday, manager Ned Yost said. Suffice it to say that for the first time in a year, Royals fans felt vulnerable. It was his first start since June 12, when an elbow condition began causing numbness in his hand.
