Image credit: (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)(Charlie Riedel | AP)
Overall Record: 1-1
Winning/Losing Pitcher
W: Daniel Lynch IV (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
L: Paul Sewald (0-1, 10.80 ERA)
S: Carlos Estévez (1)
Royals’ Player of the Game
Salvador Perez
2 for 4, 2 RBI
The Captain of the Royals took control of the game offensively and defensively today. Not only did he drive in a run on two separate occasions, he also limited the Guardians’ offense by throwing out two would-be base stealers. The first was Brayan Rocchio which ended the inning and the second was the legendary José Ramírez, who starts the follow-up to his 40/40 season with an 0-1 record on steals.
Key highlights
Seth Lugo didn’t have a convincing start to the season, unfortunately. The first inning went well despite a lot of missed pitches to Kyle Manzardo resulting in a walk. This proved to be a cause for concern as Lugo wouldn’t regain control and immediately surrender three hits to start the second inning. They would be the only hits of the inning, but still resulted in a run for Cleveland. The third inning began with two walks, and although the next two batters flied out, they were deep enough to advance and ultimately score the leadoff man. It seemed like he settled in a bit with a clean fourth inning and a strong start to the fifth, but Steven Kwan, as usual, spoiled the Royals’ mood with a home run. Lugo would finish the inning but not come back. He threw 86 pitches, which is low for him, but it was clear he didn’t have his best stuff. Most of his pitches leaned too far right and out of the zone while he could barely touch the other side, but he still found ways to limit the damage as much as he could.
The bullpen, on the other hand, inspired a lot of confidence as they silenced the Guardians offense for the rest of the game. Daniel Lynch IV needed just 23 pitches to complete two perfect frames which paved the way for Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez to lock it in. Erceg struck out nobody and surrendered a hit while Estévez walked the first batter he faced, but it was ultimately a strong, near-perfect showing from the Royals’ most dependable relievers.
On offense, Jonathan India showed exactly why he was acquired as he reached base three out of four times. He collected two hits and drew an 11-pitch walk; altogether he forced 26 pitches out of Cleveland’s arms. India’s first single was in the third inning as the lead-off man, thereafter he advanced on a wild pitch, advanced again on a Vinnie Pasquantino groundout, and scored with Salvy’s first hit. India got his long walk in support of a lead-off single from Kyle Isbel, who came around to score off Salvy’s other hit.
The game started to take a turn when Maikel Garcia hit a tall, pole-slapping home run to tie the game. The next hitter, Cavan Biggio, singled to bring out the speedy Dairon Blanco to pinch run. Blanco quickly stole second base, which set up a game-winning double from none other than Bobby Witt Jr. It was a bit of a shaky game for the offense, but at the end of the day nearly the entire lineup contributed to the scoring in some way.
Summary of the next game
Cleveland Guardians @ Kansas City Royals
Sunday, March 30th @ 1:10 pm CT
Pitchers: RHP Michael Wacha vs. RHP Tanner Bibee
The Royals have a chance to make this a winning opening weekend and series, but will have to face the true #1 of the Guardians’ rotation. Tanner Bibee will make his much-anticipated season debut after his Opening Day start was delayed by illness, which he claims was actually not from Chipotle. His young career has been solid, with him throwing more than 170 innings with an ERA around 3.5. Last year, Bibee started four games against the Royals with a 4.05 ERA in 22 innings. Michael Wacha will make his first start since signing his 3-year extension with the Royals and we’ll see if the strikeout stuff he flashed in Spring Training will show up again.
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