Final
Royals unleash Ventura on Indians
Sep 17, 2013 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - Just a few games back in the American League wild card race, the Kansas City Royals are throwing the Cleveland Indians a curveball.The Indians should see plenty of hooks on Tuesday night from Yordano Ventura, who makes his Major League debut with the Royals in the second contest of a three-game series.
With Danny Duffy scratched from his scheduled start due to a mild flexor strain, the Royals will summon Ventura from Triple-A Omaha to take the mound. He is rated Kansas City's second-best prospect by MLB.com and has gone a combined 8-6 with a 3.14 earned run average and 155 strikeouts across 134 2/3 innings in 26 games at both Double and Triple-A.
Ventura steps in for Duffy, who has made five starts since having Tommy John surgery last June. The 22-year-old righty has a fastball that can reach the upper 90s despite his 5-foot-11 frame to go along with a great curveball that racks up strikeouts.
"I think we're all excited to see Ventura pitch," Royals manager Ned Yost told his club's website. "I've had my eye on this guy like we all have for the last two or three years watching him come up in the system and I really made it a point at Spring Training to be on the Minor League fields when he was throwing batting practice or even throwing a side."
The Royals are putting their faith in the untested Dominican despite sitting just 2 1/2 games back of the league's second wild card race following Monday's 7-1 victory over the Indians.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is a half-game behind Texas for that second playoff berth. Tampa Bay holds the first wild card spot and is hosting the Rangers for a four-game set that began on Monday.
The Tribe missed a chance to move into the second wild card spot after striking out 17 times versus the Royals on Monday night. That was a franchise record for Kansas City in a nine-inning game and 10 of those were by starter James Shields, who gave up just one run on six hits.
Six different Kansas City hitters drove in a run, including Salvador Perez, who had three of his club's 14 hits.
The Royals won for the sixth time in nine games.
"We want it. I think everybody can see that. We just have to continue to battle every single day and hopefully we can get into the wild card slot," said Lorenzo Cain, who drove in a run."
Lonnie Chisenhall hit a homer for the Indians, who were coming off a four-game sweep of the White Sox and fell six games behind Cleveland for first place in the AL Central.
Scott Kazmir gave up four runs on seven hits while striking out six over five- plus innings for Cleveland.
"They are a very scrappy team," Kazmir said of the Royals. "They go out there and try and get that extra base. They just push the envelope. That's kind of their M.O. That's something we have to be aware of."
Corey Kluber is tasked with slowing down the Royals tonight and has won both of his starts since missing a month with a sprained right middle finger. He has pitched consecutive five-inning outings versus the New York Mets and White Sox, allowing two runs in each.
The 27-year-old righty hurled 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory the last time he faced Kansas City on July 12, remaining unbeaten against the club at 2-0 with a 4.44 ERA in four meetings.
The Royals have won three in a row over the Indians and trail in the season series 9-8.
- CLEVELAND: 5
KANSAS CITY: 3
Final
Sep 17 11:25 PM - Billy Butler struck out looking to end the game.
Sep 17 11:22 PM - Michael Bourn lead-off Home Run (6) to right. Nick Swisher due up.
Guardians 5, Royals 3 Top 9, 0 OutsSep 17 11:09 PM - Asdrubal Cabrera double to left scored Drew Stubbs with one out. Runner on second and Ryan Raburn due up.
Guardians 4, Royals 3 Top 8, 1 OutSep 17 10:49 PM - Nick Swisher sacrifice fly to left scored Michael Bourn with two out. None on and Jason Kipnis due up.
Guardians 3, Royals 3 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 17 10:29 PM - Michael Bourn triple to right scored Yan Gomes with one out. Runner on third and Nick Swisher due up.
Guardians 2, Royals 3 Top 7, 1 OutSep 17 10:27 PM - Michael Brantley single to right scored Nick Swisher with two out. On the play, Carlos Santana advances to third. Runners on first and third with Asdrubal Cabrera due up.
Guardians 1, Royals 3 Top 6, 2 OutsSep 17 9:53 PM - Mike Moustakas double to center scored Eric Hosmer with two out. On the play, Billy Butler advances to third. Runners on second and third with David Lough due up.
Guardians 0, Royals 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsSep 17 9:05 PM - Salvador Perez sacrifice fly to left scored Emilio Bonifacio with two out. Runners on first and second with Mike Moustakas due up.
Guardians 0, Royals 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsSep 17 9:03 PM - Eric Hosmer double to center scored Emilio Bonifacio with one out. Runner on second and Billy Butler due up.
Guardians 0, Royals 1 Bot 1, 1 OutSep 17 8:23 PM - CLEVELAND: 0
KANSAS CITY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 17 8:10 PM
Related News
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 26, 2023 Dec 26
- Royals Rundown: Recapping moves, MJ Melendez update, and love/hate new MLB rules? Dec 25
- A note from the front while awaiting news of anything resembling a baseball thing at all Dec 25
- Analysis of the ZiPS Projections for the 2024 Guardians Dec 24
- Copy of Happy Holidays From the CTC Team: Tell us your Guardians’ Christmas Wish Dec 24
- N&N: Padres ink Yuki Matsui for 5 years Dec 24
- The Royals got me what I wanted for Christmas Dec 23
- Weekend Rumblings - News for December 23, 2023 Dec 23
- Where Are They Now? - Your Favorite Forgotten Players From 2016 - 2023 Dec 22
- Royals Review Roundtable: The free-spending Royals Dec 22
- Royals Rumblings - News for December 22, 2023 Dec 22
- News and Notes: Is MLB's Hot Stove About to Burst Into Flame? Dec 22