Today, the Royals took on the Rays in the final game of their three-game series, looking to avoid the sweep at home and secure the season series against Tampa Bay. Coming into tonight’s game, the Royals had lost four straight and had not won a game at home since June. Unfortunately, the offense was dead yet again, and the Royals were shut out at home in back-to-back games, losing 4-0, and have now been swept for the fourth time this year.
The offensive plague is back, and it’s as bad as it has ever been. The Royals have now scored one run in their last 30 innings, and have been shut out in five of their last ten games played in Kansas City. The struggles are evident, and the team now sits last in baseball in total runs scored and runs per game.
There is not much good to come from this game. Kansas City opened the game with a leadoff double by Jonathan India, but could not come up with anything of substance after that. After getting their first hit, the Royals went three up, three down until the seventh inning. Shane Baz looked like an all-star, and the Royals’ offense could not figure him out.
While this was happening, the Rays’ offense was able to make some significant plays, with their first runs coming in the top of the fourth with an electric two-out rally. Jonathan Aranda came up and got a two-out double, followed by a Jake Magnum triple and an infield single by Josh Lowe. The Rays went up 2-0, and from then on, it felt as if there was no hope for the Royals or their fans.
In the sixth, the Rays were able to put the nail in the coffin, with back-to-back home runs to start the sixth inning from Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero put the Rays up 4-0, and they never looked back. The Royals threatened to score in the seventh, getting two runners on with one out, but a ground ball double play by Nick Loftin ended the inning. In the ninth, Kansas City was able to get two runners on again with just one out, but again, a ground ball double play from Maikel Garcia ended the inning and the game.
Shane Baz was dominant, giving the Rays eight scoreless innings and only allowing one hit through the first six innings of the game. Michael Lorenzen needed to be perfect to keep Kansas City, but ran into some struggles, allowing eight hits and two tough home runs. The Royals fall to five games below .500 and are now a half game behind the Twins. They have now lost their last ten games at home and will face the Dodgers in a three-game series that starts tomorrow.
Winners
Jonathan India – 2/4 at the plate with a double
Vinnie Pasquantino – 2/4 at the plate
Sam Long – Shut down inning in the ninth in his second appearance back from injury
Losers
The entire offense