Final Score: LAA 1 | KC 2
Overall Record: 24-16
Winning/Losing Pitcher
W: Tyler Duffey (1-0 | 4.05 ERA)
L: Carlos Estévez (0-2 | 6.17 ERA)
S: John Schreiber (1, 0.98 ERA)
Royals Player(s) of the Game
Alec Marsh: 5.1IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Marsh looked as good as ever in his return from the injured list. His fastball touched 98 mph on the day and he did a great job limiting the damage all night long. That improvement in the fastball continues to be the leading story for the 2019 second-round pick. He generated 24 swings with his four-seamer on Friday. Ten of those were whiffs. He had 19 swinging strikes in total on the night. The result was a fantastic 36% CSW%. Jo Adell’s fifth-inning home run would prove to be the only blemish on an otherwise outstanding return for Marsh. With Marsh back in the rotation, the Royals rotation is set to continue chugging along as one of the very best in all of baseball.
MJ Melendez: 3/4, 3B
MJ Melendez has started to get back on track in May. That would be an extremely welcome sign from a Kansas City outfield that has otherwise been one of the worst in baseball over the last several weeks. Melendez started his night with a triple in the second inning. It was scorched at 101 mph off the bat. His next at-bat in the fifth saw Melendez scorch another one at 100 mph for a single. Melendez hit his third hit of the night — another single — at 100 mph off the bat as well. The Royals’ left fielder is starting to hit the ball hard once again. Those results should continue to show up in the box score if he remains consistent.
Adam Frazier: 2/3, BB, HR, 2 RBI
Adam Frazier was the hero on the night. He hit the ball hard all night long, even on his flyout in the second inning (91 mph). When it counted most, however, Frazier came through in the clutch. With MJ Melendez on first in the ninth inning, Frazier came to the plate against Angels closer Carlos Estévez. He scorched a baseball just inside the right-field foul pole to give Kansas City the 2-1 lead. The ball would’ve been gone in every park except Coors Field (ironically enough). Frazier is now hitting just .188 on the season but has come through in a handful of key moments this season, including Friday night.
Summary of Next Game
The Royals play game three of a four-game set in Los Angeles on Saturday. After winning the first two contests, they can come away with a second-straight series win with a victory. Cole Ragans toes the mound against lefty Tyler Anderson. At 24-16, the Royals are just a half-game back from Cleveland for first place in the American League Central. Cleveland is in Chicago facing the White Sox.