Final Score: BAL 1 | KC 4
Winning/Losing Pitcher:
W: Alec Marsh (1-0, 1.29 ERA)
L: Cole Irvin (0-1, 7.20 ERA)
Royals Player(s) of the Game
Alec Marsh, 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
What a way for Alec Marsh to start the season. Going seven strong and efficient innings only throwing 76 pitches. After last season, Marsh had to regain the trust of the coaching staff and won the fifth spot in the rotation after a great Spring.
Now, he is shutting down one of the best AL teams in the league. He had all his pitches going and had multiple innings where he threw under or at 10 pitches. Outside of the third inning where he gave up back-to-back doubles to Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, Marsh shut the Orioles down. Marsh had some intriguing numbers from an analytical standpoint with heightened spin rates and an above 30% CSW.
Maikel Garcia, 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 BB
At this rate the main question for Garcia is if he can even hit for the cycle, because he still doesn’t have a single on the year. Jokes aside, Garcia was the catalyst today in a cold wet evening in Baltimore. The scoring got started and ended when Garcia doubled to drive in Nick Loftin and Freddy Fermin, as well as Garcia tripling to drive in Loftin once again. That made it 4-1 and the Royals never looked back from that.
Other Highlights
After a rough first game in Baltimore, Nick Loftin sought redemption and got it. Loftin went 2 for 2 with a walk, a RBI and 2 runs scored on the day. Salvador Perez continues a strong start to the year as he went 2 for 4 while being the designated hitter. Finally, for Vinnie Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel, their luck to start the year has been bad as both had hard hit outs throughout this game. Vinnie had two outs over 105 MPH and in Isbel’s one plate appearance he hit it 105 MPH right at Ryan Mountcastle.
The bullpen also got solid outings from John Schreiber and Will Smith. Outside of Schreiber’s first wild outing, he has calmed down and shut down the Orioles in two appearances. Will Smith records his and the Royals first save on the year after giving up four runs in his first outing.
Summary of the Next Game
The Royals head into the rubber match against Baltimore in what could be a pitchers duel in another rainy game, potentially. Cole Ragans (0-1) will be squaring off against Corbin Burnes (1-0) in the series finale. Ragans is coming off a Royals Opening Day record start with 9 K’s while giving up 2 ER, while Burnes is coming off an 11 K, 1 H performance in his Orioles debut.
Image credit: Nick Wass, Associated Press
