|
 Jarrod Dyson singled home two runs in the eighth inning as Kansas
City downed the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 Tuesday night, but Royals
starter Jason Vargas exited in the second inning with an elbow
injury.
Left fielder Dyson's single scored second baseman Omar Infante, who
reached on an error, and right fielder Alex Rios, who had singled.
Dyson broke his bat on the single.
"It died a soldier, man," Dyson said. "It's gone to bat heaven, man.
I'll take it."
Shortstop Alcides Escobar singled home Dyson for the final run.
Wade Davis (6-1), the fifth of six Kansas City pitchers, picked up
the victory. Greg Holland gave up four hits and a walk in the ninth,
but picked up his 21st save.
Left fielder Starling Marte led off the ninth with a single, but was
thrown out at the plate when he attempted to score on shortstop Jung
Ho Kang's double to center.
Pinch hitter Travis Ishikawa delivered a RBI-pinch single with two
out in the ninth to score Kang for the only Pirates run. Holland
struck out right fielder Gregory Polanco with the bases loaded to
end the game.
The Pirates threatened in the eighth when first baseman Sean
Rodriguez snapped an 0-for-16 drought with a one-out single and
Polanco walked. After second baseman Neil Walker flied out to left,
Davis replaced Herrera and struck out center fielder Andrew
McCutchen.
Vargas, who was making his first start since June 8 before going on
the disabled list with a left flexor strain, could be going back on
the disabled list.
Vargas spun around on the mound and grimaced in pain after throwing
a ball to third baseman Brent Morel in the second inning. After a
visit from manager Ned Yost, pitching coach Dave Eiland and trainer
Nick Kenney, Vargas was removed without even attempting a warmup
toss.
"The work (to get back) isn't the frustrating part, but being able
to compete and go out there with your teammates and contribute and
be a part of what's going on," Vargas said.
The preliminary diagnosis was left medial elbow pain. He will have
an MRI on Wednesday.
"I didn't feel anything pop," Vargas said. "It was pain. I don't
know if I could describe the exact feelings I had, but it was
discomfort to cause me to feel like I definitely wasn't going to be
able to make any more pitches and be competitive."
Right-hander Joe Blanton replaced Vargas and struck out the first
four Pirates he faced.
The Pirates thought they had a run in the second. Marte led off the
inning with an apparent homer to left, which landed in the Royals'
bullpen. After a 3-minute, 19-second crew chief review, the ruling
on the field was overturned. It was determined that the ball struck
below the top of the outfield wall and bounced over another wall for
a ground-rule double.
[to top of second column] |
Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole limited the Royals to three hits
and no runs in the first five innings, but took the loss after his
defense let him down late. He finished by allowing three runs, two
earned, on five hits while striking out six.
"It shattered his bat," Cole said of Dyson's two-run single. "But he
was able to get it over the infield. That's one of those situations
where you just have to tip your cap."
Ryan Madson replaced Blanton to start the sixth. Blanton threw 55
pitches in 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two singles, walking
none and striking out five.
"I'm not so sure they got to Cole, to be quite frank with you,"
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We got in our way in the eighth
inning. We got in our way on three consecutive plays. We could have
taken better care of the ball that could have resulted in a much
different situation. Cole pitched an outstanding game."
NOTES: The Royals optioned RHP Yordano Ventura to Triple-A Omaha
after he was torched for six runs on 10 hits and a walk in four-plus
innings Monday in a loss to the Pirates. Royals manager Ned Yost
said "going down and having success will help him in the long run."
... Pirates C Francisco Cervelli had a bruised right wrist and was
not in the lineup. Chris Stewart replaced him in the starting
lineup. Manager Clint Hurdle said Cervelli was available only for an
emergency. ... The Pirates are 7-3 in RHP Charlie Morton's 10
starts. He will start the series finale Wednesday at Kansas City.
The Royals will start RHP Edinson Volquez, who went 13-7 with a 3.04
ERA last year with the Pirates. ... Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano,
who missed his Saturday start with a stiff neck, threw a side
session Tuesday with no problems. He is scheduled to start Thursday
against Washington.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
