After a doubleheader cleared most of the bullpen yesterday, the Royals were scraping to pull together four good innings after Seth Lugo put down five shaky innings to keep the game close. Heading into the eighth inning, the game was tied at 2-2.
Unfortunately, the bullpen was not up to the task.
The game completely unraveled in the eighth inning, as Jonathan Bowlan was unable to make any good pitches. He gave up an easy double to Andrew Benintendi and two walks to load the bases with only one out. Luis Robert Jr blooped a little single into right field to score two runs, and the floodgates were open.
On a soft grounder, India had a terrible throw to Witt, who came off the bag to catch the ball. Because Robert Jr had such a terrible slide, Witt was able to tag the bag with his glove to get the forceout, but that meant no double play. After another walk, Bowlan was removed for Taylor Clarke, who allowed another run on a wild pitch that Salvy was unable to block. Mike Tauchman hit a grounder right to Maikel Garcia, but he flubbed the ball and everyone was safe, allowing another run. To complete the nonsense, Clarke made a bad throw on a pickoff attempt to allow the fifth run of the inning. After that, the score was 7-2 and the game was pretty much over.
Earlier in the eighth, the Royals wasted a good chance in the eighth inning, which proved to be basically the game. India led off with a walk and Witt followed with a single. With no outs, Quatraro had Garcia bunt with the infield in. Garcia, who is one of the best hitters on the team, bunted right back to the pitcher. India, running to third, slid in such a way that his lead foot went over the top of the third base bag. As a result, India was called out. Vinnie whacked a one-hop grounder to the second baseman, who made a good play to get the force out at second base. Salvy was unable to bring any runners in, so the Royals came away with nothing.
That inning was among the sorriest displays of Royals baseball I have ever seen, and I watched the Royals in the 90s and 2000s. I have seen some bad baseball. Bad pitching by multiple pitchers, bad defense from multiple guys, and rotten batted ball luck. Man I just want to forget that ever happened.
Before that complete meltdown, Lugo was really laboring this game. He was kind of all over the place with his pitches, but he gritted through it. He completed five innings, but he gave up only two runs and struck out five. It was enough to keep the game close against a struggling team without much offense.
Lugo was cruising into the second inning, but then he gave up a single and a walk to Kyle Teel in his first MLB plate appearance. Robert followed with a short line drive to center field that scored Palacios. Teel did a TOOTBLAN trying to run home on a steal attempt. At least the White Sox did ONE thing wrong this game, but they needed to do a lot more wrong to give the Royals a chance. Not even they could manage it.
Starting pitcher Davis Martin put down seven strikeouts in six innings, which was a season-high in Ks. He actually looked pretty strong; he gave up two home runs to Garcia and Pasquantino back-to-back, but otherwise the Royals did not threaten him much. Tauchman picked him later with a homer of his own.
Once we got into the bullpens, the Royals wasted a good chance in the eighth inning, which proved to be basically the game. India led off with a walk and Witt followed with a single. With no outs, Quatraro had Garcia bunt with the infield in. Garcia, who is one of the best hitters on the team, bunted right back to the pitcher. India, running to third, slid in such a way that his lead foot went over the top of the third base bag. As a result, India was called out. Vinnie whacked a one-hop grounder to the second baseman, who made a good play to get the force out at second base. Salvy was unable to bring any runners in, so the Royals came away with nothing.
And that’s how this game will end up in the standings. The Royals came away with nothing against a bad team they should be clobbering. I guess it happens, but man that eighth inning was so tough to watch. Like I gotta go wash my hands, or put in some eyedrops, or something to get that stink off me.
The Royals drop to 33-31 on the season. The White Sox improve to 21-43. The two teams play again tomorrow at 3:10pm US Central time.
