Final Score: KC 1 | TB  4

Overall Record: 34-20

Winning/Losing Pitcher

• W: Garrett Cleavinger (4-0 | 1.66 ERA)
• L: Michael Wacha  (4-5 | 4.31 ERA)
• S: Pete Fairbanks (5 | 4.50 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Michael Wacha

6.0+ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K

Look, there’s nothing else you could have asked for from Michael Wacha on Sunday. At the beginning, he really had the Rays lineup confused. Made quick work of a very solid lineup and quite frankly, made them look lost up there. The changeup was in full effect striking out batters left and right. 

But more surprisingly, the broadcast said that his most used pitch today was his slider. Although the slider, fastball, changeup combo were all pretty similar, it was a bit enlightening to see him use the slider more. 

He put together five perfect innings, and it wasn’t until the seventh when the Rays bats magically decided to come alive. I still believe that the Yandy Diaz at bat in the bottom of the sixth really dictated how the rest of Wacha’s day went. He was about to set Diaz down, had him in an 0-2 count, under 80 pitches, and then Diaz completely flipped the at bat around. And frankly, Wacha’s start. Diaz made it a ten pitch AB, Wacha got off the mound unscathed in the sixth inning. But a leadoff single, and then a double off the bat of Izaac Parades knocked Wacha out of his great start because the Royals offense only scored one. All that to be said, before the 7th inning, the man was putting together a phenomenal start, it just didn’t go his way. 

Key Highlights

The offense kind of fell flat in this one, and couldn’t really get it going. Outside of an impressive Bobby Witt Jr. home run in the top of the sixth, the Royals didn’t score another run the rest of the game. 

Spoiling Michael Wacha’s great start that he had the Rays batters guessing for the majority. One thing to notice defensively was MJ Melendez’s sliding grab to rob Jose Siri of a hit. Off the bat it looked like there was no one that could get there, and MJ looked like superman in the flight of the ball. Other than that, the rest of the day was just an uneasy feeling. After the two leadoff hits in the bottom of the 7th, John Schriber came in and looked human for once. Hit a batter to load the bases. Then proceeded to give up a pinch-hit 3-run triple to Brandon Lowe that ended up being the difference in the game. Sometimes it just doesn’t end your way. And it’s a crappy way to end an eight game winning streak. Especially when Cleveland keeps winning and you drop a game in the standings during that stretch…

The top of the 8th showed some promise…until it didn’t. An unwise send-of home of Bobby Witt Jr from Vance Wilson, pretty much ended any hope that the Royals had for the rest of the game. It was a laced single by Salvador Perez, and even Bobby couldn’t beat out a throw from right fielder, Randy Arozarana. Nelson Velazquez flew out, and it ended any momentum they did have. But sometimes the just end this way. No better time to start a new winning streak than the next game. Especially against a divisional opponent. 

Summary of the Next Game

Monday, the Royals will head to Minnesota for a date with the Twins in a key AL Central matchup on Memorial Day. Alec Marsh goes to the hill for Kansas City who has been off to an impressive start in his first year full season as a starter. He’s put up a 4-1 record and only accruing a 2.72 ERA. The Royals will have their work cut out for them though, with Joe Ryan on the bump for the Twins. He has always given the Royals fits and he will try to continue his solid season he’s put together so far. Putting up a 3.15 ERA while averaging six innings a start. So at 1:10 on that beloved Memorial Day holiday, strap in for some afternoon baseball to enjoy on your day off (if you have the day off, sorry if you don’t). It should be a good day to sit back, relax and be where you want to be. Baseball with the Royals.