The Royals were forced to have a bullpen start against the Padres. The Royals used seven pitchers on the day
Kansas City depended on their bullpen because their starting pitching core has been hit with the injury bug. Ryan Yarbough was put on the IL earlier in the week, Kris Bubic is out for the year and Daniel Lynch is yet to come back from his should injury. With Kansas City going up against a good pitcher in Yu Darvish the Royals were punching well above their weight.
The overall pitching staff had a mediocre day. The staff continues to struggle with command having nine walks on the day. The Padres failed to capitalize on their free bases leaving 12 runners on base.
One of the biggest contributors to the walks was Aroldis Chapman who despite pitching one inning had three walks. Only leading by a single run in the seventh inning Kansas City opted to bring Chapman in to keep the lead. He walked three of the first four batters he faced and loaded the bases.
The Royals were aided by a little bit of luck on a passed ball. On a 2-2 count Chapman threw a ball past Salvador Pererz and with Juan Soto running in from third the ball bounded right back at Perez who was able to tag out Soto ending the inning.
Royals Manager Mattt Quatraro said Chapman was struggling with his command but Kansas City weathered the storm.
“Getting out of it is exactly what we did in the seventh,” Quatraro said. “Chapman he sprayed it around he had some that looked pretty close from my vantage point but then obviously sprayed it on some either one.”
Mike Mayers contributed to the game pitching the most innings out of the seven pitchers used. His two and two-thirds innings come right after being called up to join the team. Mayers joined the 26-man roster as a replacement for Amir Garrett, who was placed on the family medical emergency list.
The biggest hit for Kansas City came off the bat of Vinnie Pasquantino. He hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Royals the lead. Darvish left a sweeper right over the heart of the plate and Pasquantino was able to hit it 379 feet over the right field wall. This was his first extra-base hit in a week. This was able his first RBI in over a week.
Despite Pasquanitinos small slump, Quatraro said he continues to be the same hitter he has been all year.
“I don’t think there has been much difference, other than the ball hasn’t been finding the grass,” Quatraro said. “He’s been putting good swings on the ball. he’s been getting the pitches that he needs to hit. He’s not striking out, so probably just being a little more selective on what he does go after, especially early in the count, but overall I haven’t seen much of a difference.”
Kansas City has an off day on Thursday and will finish the road against the White Sox starting on Friday. Zack Greinke will have the start on Friday. First pitch is at 7:10.
