(AP Photo/Phil Long)
Record: 8-8
Winning/Losing Pitcher:
W: Cole Ragans (1-0 | 2.28 ERA)
L: Ben Lively (0-2 | 4.87 ERA)
S: Carlos Estévez ( 5 | 1.29 ERA)
Key Highlights
The offense started slow once again for the Royals in Cleveland, thankfully we’re done here after this series. So naturally, Cleveland strikes first on a bizarre play from the Royals defense. A laced double to the wall by Daniel Schneeman had Jhonkensy Noel running home where he scores. But the throw goes sailing over Freddy Fermin’s head and Schneeman ends up scoring on a little league home run. The throw by Bobby Witt Jr is not something that we are used to seeing from him of course, but just an odd odd play. Hopefully it’s a one time thing, and we can leave it behind us. It left us thinking it might be a long day once again. Which it has been a rough series for the Boys in Blue.
The offense started putting some of it together with the El Capitan, Salvador Perez, stepping up big to tie the game with a two run homer in the fourth inning. This should get that bat going for him. It’s been a tough start, but we all know he’s bound to explode on one of those Salvy Stretches at any time.
Thankfully the offense kept it going in the top of the fifth. The “dawg” himself, Freddy Fermin comes back from a 0-2 count to work a walk to put him on base for Kyle Isbel. Who continues his hot start to the season, with a double over Noel’s head in right field. Just put the two of them on second and third with Maikel Garcia up to the plate. He laces one into right-center field and is able to advance to second for a double. Scoring both Fermin and Isbel in the process, making it a 4-2 lead for the Royals.
Maikel ended up batting leadoff for the first time this year again, with Jonathan India out in this one on a bit of a precaution to his injury sustained Saturday night. Garcia came up big, collecting the aforementioned two run single in the 4th, along with two other hits to tag along with it. I hope it’s starting to click for him from a confidence perspective as well. Getting him going will be oh so important to this team taking a step forward in 2025. It’s the obvious of course, but still important to point out. Because if he reaches his full potential, we have another young star-in-the-making in this core. Kyle Isbel stepping up today was huge as well, two less likely contributors that if their bats continue to develop: Will fill most the holes on this Royals roster. That might sound hyperbolic, but I think it’s true. Especially if they’re a part of players you developed as well, you can just focus on adding guys that you know for certain can improve your team. Isbel collecting a three hit performance for the second time this week is huge. I don’t care that the third one was a dribbler up the line that hit the bag, they all count the same feller! In all seriousness, Isbel’s elite defense matched with a polished bat is going to be lethal. We’re waiting for ANYONE to step up in the outfield on offense. Literally anyone. So why not Kyle Isbel?
Erceg and Estévez put them to bed to finish off the game, and we have another Kamehameha in celebration of a Royals victory. Estévez also struck out the side in the ninth after giving up a leadoff single. You wanna talk about a guy who means business? That’s Carlos Estevez. Sidenote, I think it is a bit odd they brought out Erceg for only one batter while Ragans was cruising, and that was his only batter. The only explanation I have for that one, is they think Lucas Erceg is their Wade Davis. I think they want people to under estimate him, so in reality, it’s a seven inning game. It sucks we lost Harvey for the next couple weeks, but those two have been so good. I hope we don’t even realize he’s gone.
Royals Player of the Game
Cole Ragans
7.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 10 Ks, 0 BB
You were probably wondering why I haven’t said a lick about the starting pitcher yet, or why no other offense was spoken about from Cleveland. It was because Cole Ragans kicked ass and took names on Sunday. Other than a double that was misplayed which led to a run scoring that didn’t need to. Ragans was untouchable, and I am not exaggerating. 20 Whiffs from the Guardians today. Read that again, I know it doesn’t seem real, but you’re reading it correctly. 20 swings and misses. You do not see that every day. He was just playing mind games all day with them, consistently changing speeds, and from the same arm slot all of his pitches look the exact same out of the hand, until it’s too late. It is impossible for these hitters to go up there and guess right when he is working at his best. Another double digit strikeout performance from Ragans, his third straight as well. Ten strikeouts was the number today, but what’s even better? No walks. Just fantastic, his longest start of his career, and I wish he would’ve gotten the final out in the 8th. But Matt Quatraro was managing this one like a playoff game, which you can’t get mad at.
Summary of the Next Game:
For the whole broadcast today, Rex was saying that the Royals will “head north” to New York, to play the Yankees. Although Rex isn’t completely right, I’ll go along with him just for fun. The Royals will head north-ish to the Bronx in New York for 2024 ALDS rematch between two solid teams once again. Seth Lugo will take the hill for a Royals team trying to keep the momentum going. While longtime foe and old friend Carlos “Cookie” Carrasco will battle on the bump for the Yankees. The legendary Yankee Stadium in the Bronx will set the scene for what I’m sure will be on of the best matchups of the year. Yankees have been playing way better at home though, so look out for that. I’m intrigued to see if we can spark this rivalry even more, take us back to the 70s. I’d love to see these two teams take shot after shot at each other. I said it back then and I’ll say it now, the Royals are a bad matchup for the Yankees. They both have a juggernaut on offense, and the Royals pitching staff can really go toe to toe with them. From a starter perspective, Royals honestly are deeper. And the bullpens are pretty much toss ups, and I’ll be honest. I think I like the Royals backend better. We’ll have to see how it plays out, but the stars will be out at Yankee Stadium, like they always are.
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