In game two of their doubleheader, the Royals look to secure their first sweep of the year and to win their fourth in a row to establish their longest win streak of the year. The offense came alive in game one of the doubleheader, and they hope the success will carry over into game two. The offense carried over and the Royals scored 6 runs, and 13 combined which resulted in a big win and the sweep taking them to 12-14 as they get ready to host the Astros this weekend.
The Royals got on the board first and never looked back, as Salvador Perez hit his third double of the day and with sacrifice plays by Maikel Garcia and Michael Massey, took the lead 1-0 in the bottom of the second. While the game did not start with the same flare as game one, the Royals bats were still solid and were effective when the team needed offense.
The Royals put together some impressive ABs, with Freddy Fermin taking a nine pitch AB to lead off the third and was followed by Jonathan India working a walk. Fermin wound up being picked off at third, and India got out due to a grounder by Bobby Witt Jr, but BWJ was able to avoid the double play. Witt proceeded to steal second, and then a RBI single from Vinnie Pasquantino drove him in for the Royals to go up 2-0.
In the fifth, the Royals broke the game open with a big two out rally. Two early outs by Drew Waters and Freddy Fermin made it appear that Chase Dollander would get a clean fifth inning. But a double by Jonathan India was followed by an opposite field single from Bobby Witt Jr to drive him in. Then a walk from Vinnie Pasquantio and a wild pitch from Dollander put runners on second and third for Salvador Perez, who drove both of them in with yet another double.
Dollander looked solid, but simply could not put hitters away after getting ahead in the count. He looked like he was on his way to a quality start until the fifth inning where he started to lose control of the game. Some poor control with two outs allowed the Royals to rally and he wound up being responsible for 5 earned runs over just 4.2 innings.
On the other side, Michael Lorenzen had maybe his best performance of the year, getting through 5.2 innings scoreless before allowing a solo shot by Jordan Beck with two outs in the 6th. He earned a quality start and finished the day with 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 Ks, and 5 hits. He did have four walks which he can clean up, but got the job done over the first six.
Heading into the seventh, the Royals elected to hand the ball off to the bullpen. John Schreiber came away with a clean inning in the 7th and got two strikeouts. Daniel Lynch IV came in for the eighth and gave up a solo shot but finished the inning hanging on to a three run lead.
The Royals were able to get the run back in the bottom of the eighth with a Massey hit and Tyler Tolbert (who came in as a pinch runner) stole second and on a passed throw to second got to third. He was driven in by Mark Cahna and the Royals headed into the ninth up 6-2.
Daniel Lynch IV came out again for the ninth and got knocked around a bit, with two one out hits. But a great defensive play by Tyler Tolbert and a ground out by Ryan McMahon kept the ninth clean and finished the game with a 6-2 win.
Winners
Salvador Perez – two more doubles
Freddy Fermin –
Vinnie Pasquantio –
Jonathan India –
Losers
