Reclaiming the Throne: A Kansas City Royals Dynasty (2021)

[saintrules]

Game 3 vs White Sox (1-1)

April 3rd, 2021

Royals take series finale off big blasts

Chicago, IL - A twelve mile per hour wind blowing straight to left certainly helped, but the big power bats of Adalberto Mondesi, Jorge Soler, and Hunter Dozier are capable of tearing the seams off the ball, regardless of the wind. The Royals blasted Dallas Keuchel in a series winning contest, 7-4.

Things got off to a slow start for the Royals and all signs pointed to a repeat of the pitchers duel in game two. Dallas Keuchel, albeit hittable, kept the Royals in check as the White Sox defense cleaned up any playable balls. Luis Robert opened things up in the bottom of the fourth with a dead-center shot, but from that point on, it was all Kansas City.

The usual mainstay atop the order, Whit Merrifield, was moved down in the order in favor of the speedy power bat, Adalberto Mondesi. The flashy shortstop put his game role to work in the fifth as he cleaned up the bases with a huge shot to left, immediately followed by another bomb to left from Carlos Santana. The two shots would tally four RBI's by innings end thanks to singles from Hanser Alberto and Michael Taylor, preceding the homers.

As the game progressed, Chicago had few answers for a strong outing from Danny Duffy in his eleventh season with KC. Duffy would go seven strong, longest yet for Kansas City, allowing two earned on five hits. The White Sox made things semi interesting late in the ninth, but Richard Lovelady earned the unexpected Save as the South Side team put a few on the board off Scott Barlow.

The big win marks the first series victory for the Royals on the young 2021 campaign. The American League Central is the Twins' to lose, but between a weaker Cleveland lineup and the White Sox losing Eloy Jimenez, second place in the division is not out of the question.

Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox
Apr 3, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City (2-1)	0	0	0	0	4	1	0	2	0	7	9	0
Chicago (1-2)	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	4	9	0
W: D. Duffy (W, 1-0) L: D. Keuchel (L, 0-1) S: R. Lovelady (SV, 1)

Scoring Summary
SCORING DETAILS			KAN	CHW
CHW	4th	L. Robert homered to center (422 feet)	0	1
KAN	5th	A. Mondesi homered to left (423 feet) (Alberto scores, Taylor scores)	3	1
KAN	5th	C. Santana homered to left (375 feet)	4	1
CHW	5th	L. Garcia homered to left (411 feet)	4	2
KAN	6th	J. Soler homered to left (470 feet)	5	2
KAN	8th	H. Dozier homered to left (474 feet) (Santana scores)	7	2
CHW	9th	T. Anderson singled to right (Moncada scores)	7	3
CHW	9th	N. Madrigal doubled to right (Grandal scores)	7	4

Kansas City Royals
HITTERS	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	AVG
A. Mondesi, SS	3	1	1	3	1	0	.111
C. Santana, 1B	3	2	1	1	1	0	.100
H. Dozier, 3B	4	1	2	2	0	0	.364
J. Soler, RF	4	1	2	1	0	1	.273
W. Merrifield, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0	.000
A. Benintendi, LF	4	0	1	0	0	2	.083
S. Perez, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	.300
H. Alberto, DH	4	1	1	0	0	1	.250
M. Taylor, CF	4	1	1	0	0	0	.200
BATTING 2B: H. Dozier (1) HR: J. Soler (2), H. Dozier (2), A. Mondesi (1), C. Santana (1) RBI: A. Mondesi 3 (3), H. Dozier 2 (3), J. Soler (2), C. Santana (1) GIDP: W. Merrifield

Kansas City Royals
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
D. Duffy (W, 1-0)	7.0	5	2	2	2	6	2.57
S. Barlow	1.2	3	2	2	0	0	9.00
R. Lovelady (SV, 1)	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	0.00

Chicago White Sox
HITTERS	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	AVG
T. Anderson, SS	5	0	1	1	0	0	.385
N. Madrigal, 2B	5	0	2	1	0	0	.214
J. Abreu, 1B	4	0	1	0	1	1	.077
A. Vaughn, DH	3	0	0	0	1	0	.091
L. Robert, CF	4	1	1	1	0	2	.250
Y. Moncada, 3B	4	1	1	0	0	1	.231
L. Garcia, LF	4	1	1	1	0	1	.364
A. Eaton, RF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.273
Y. Grandal, C	3	1	2	0	0	0	.556
BATTING 2B: Y. Grandal, (4), N. Madrigal 2 (3) HR: L. Robert (1), L. Garcia (1) RBI: T. Anderson (3), L. Garcia (3), N. Madrigal (2), L. Robert (1) HBP: Y. Grandal

Chicago White Sox
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
D. Keuchel (L, 0-1)	5.0	8	5	5	1	2	9.00
C. Heuer	2.0	0	0	0	0	1	0.00
M. Foster	2.0	1	2	2	1	2	6.00

[saintrules]

Quote: Originally Posted by dfsJunkie

Two really fun squads to kick off the season. Tim Anderson is tearing you up man.

Agreed! Grandal and Madrigal had our number too with all those doubles... I am just thankful Jose Abreu was 1/12 with zero RBI's, that probably won us the series alone.

[saintrules]

Game 1 vs Tigers (2-1)

April 4th, 2021

Singer tosses gem in Sophomore debut

Detroit, MI - A Sophomore slump looks to be out of the way, at least for now, as Brady Singer absolutely melted the Detroit Tigers in a road win, 7-0.

Singer's Rookie campaign with the Royals was a good one following his graduation from High-A ball in 2019 where he held a 1.87 ERA in 10 starts with a 53-13 K-BB ratio. Despite a 4.06 ERA in 12 starts last season, Singer showed the ability to get it done against a strong lineup in his debut versus the Indians. Here in 2021, Singer looks to be the arm the Royals were promised.

The Tigers are far from a strong hitting bunch, but Jonathan Schoop is currently leading the American League in AVG at .571 and Miguel Cabrera is dangerous no matter how old he is. The strikeout ball was not in order today for Singer, but as for the double play ball, that's a different story. The Tigers would end the day putting up five GIDP's by game's end, thwarting any shot the home team had at moving baserunners.

As for the sticks, welcome back Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi. The two were moved back to the top of the pecking order as a quiet visit in Chicago led them to being moved down in the third contest against the White Sox. The two would combine for seven hits on eleven AB's and set the table numerous times for the long ball hungry, Jorge Soler. The Right Fielder would go yard twice off Tarik Skubal and Jose Urena, bringing his total on the year to four.

The Royals failed to produce any more runs following the third inning, but it was not necessary in the end as Singer kept the Tigers off the board through nine full. The Royals will look to snag an early season sweep in the two game set against the Tigers.

Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers
Apr 3, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City (3-1)	3	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	15	0
Detroit (2-2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
W: B. Singer (W, 1-0) L: T. Skubal (L, 0-1) S: None

Scoring Summary
SCORING DETAILS			KAN	DET
KAN	1st	J. Soler homered to left (375 feet) (Merrifield scores, Benintendi scores)	3	0
KAN	2nd	A. Benintendi homered to right (407 feet) (Merrifield scores)	5	0
KAN	2nd	J. Soler homered to left (385 feet)	6	0
KAN	3rd	A. Mondesi hit sacrifice (Santana scores)	7	0

Kansas City Royals
HITTERS	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	AVG
W. Merrifield, 2B	6	2	4	0	0	1	.222
A. Benintendi, LF	5	2	3	2	0	1	.235
J. Soler, DH	5	2	2	4	0	1	.313
H. Dozier, 3B	3	0	1	0	2	1	.357
C. Santana, 1B	4	1	0	0	1	1	.071
S. Perez, C	5	0	3	0	0	0	.400
M. Taylor, CF	5	0	1	0	0	1	.200
K. Isbel, RF	2	0	1	0	2	1	.375
A. Mondesi, SS	4	0	0	1	0	2	.077
BATTING 2B: A. Benintendi (1) HR: J. Soler 2 (4), A. Benintendi (1) RBI: J. Soler 4 (6), A. Benintendi 2 (2), A. Mondesi (4)
BASERUNNING SB: W. Merrifield (1)

Kansas City Royals
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
B. Singer (W, 1-0)	9.0	6	0	0	3	2	0.00

Detroit Tigers
HITTERS	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	AVG
V. Reyes, DH	3	0	0	0	1	0	.125
R. Grossman, LF	3	0	1	0	1	1	.187
M. Cabrera, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	.294
W. Castro, SS	4	0	0	0	0	0	.222
N. Mazara, RF	3	0	2	0	0	0	.187
J. Candelario, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	0	.214
J. Schoop, 2B	2	0	1	0	1	0	.571
J. Jones, CF	3	0	0	0	0	1	.214
W. Ramos, C	3	0	1	0	0	0	.154
BATTING GIDP: W. Castro 2, M. Cabrera, J. Candelario, W. Ramos
FIELDING E: W. Ramos (1)

Detroit Tigers
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
T. Skubal (L, 0-1)	1.1	4	3	3	0	2	20.25
J. Urena	1.1	4	4	4	1	3	8.31
T. Alexander	3.2	4	0	0	3	2	0.00
D. Holland	2.0	3	0	0	1	1	0.00
J. Cisnero	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0.00

[artoodeetoo]

Singer needs to miss more bats

[saintrules]

Game 2 vs Tigers (2-2)

April 5th, 2021

Castro walk-off kills Royals short series sweep

Detroit, MI - Give an inch & they will take a mile. The Detroit Tigers capitalized on a Ninth inning opportunity and managed to walk things off at home, 5-4.

Things started wonky once again for the Motor City Tigers as Jose Urena came out in the first with an apparent shoulder injury. The door opened up early for the visiting Royals as Derek Holland would be lit up over two and one third, surrendering four earned on five hits. The damage would soon slow thanks to strong outings from Tyler Alexander and Jose Cisnero as the Royals' bats cooled following a solid fourth inning.

Hunter Dozier, Jorge Soler, and Salvador Perez would drive in all four runs for Kansas City. Jorge Soler tallied his AL leading fifth homer and Salvador Perez leads all Royals sticks with a batting average of .421 through five games.

For the most part, Jake Junis looked good enough as the fifth arm in the Royals rotation, but things became a disaster as Greg Holland took the mound in his second action of the season. Holland would be absolutely blasted by the Tigers, giving up a homerun to Jacoby Jones before surrendering three more hits and taken off the mound with the bases loaded. Wade Davis would get two outs, but a base knock from Willi Castro would end things in Detroit, 5-4.

The Royals split an early season series with Detroit, 1-1.

Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers
Apr 5, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City (3-2)	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	4	9	1
Detroit (3-2)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	14	0
W: B. Farmer (W, 1-0) L: G. Holland (L, 0-1) S: None

Scoring Summary
SCORING DETAILS			KAN	DET
KAN	1st	J. Soler homered to right (382 feet)	1	0
DET	1st	W. Castro sacrifice fly (Reyes scores)	1	1
DET	1st	J. Candelario grounded to center (Cabrera scores)	1	2
KAN	4th	H. Dozier doubled to right (Benintendi scores)	2	2
KAN	4th	S. Perez grounded to center (Soler scores, Dozier scores)	4	2
DET	9th	J. Jones homered to right (345 feet) (Schoop scores)	4	4
DET	9th	W. Castro lined to right (Ramos scores)	4	5

Kansas City Royals
HITTERS	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	AVG
W. Merrifield, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	1	.182
A. Benintendi, LF	4	1	3	0	0	0	.333
J. Soler, DH	3	2	1	1	1	1	.316
H. Dozier, 3B	4	1	1	1	0	1	.333
S. Perez, C	4	0	2	2	0	2	.421
K. Isbel, RF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.250
C. Santana, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0	.111
M. Taylor, CF	4	0	0	0	0	1	.158
A. Mondesi, SS	3	0	1	0	0	0	.125
BATTING 2B: H. Dozier (2) HR: J. Soler (5) RBI: S. Perez 2 (3), J. Soler (7), H. Dozier (4)
FIELDING E: W. Merrifield (1)

Kansas City Royals
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
J. Junis	6.0	9	2	2	0	3	3.00
J. Hahn (H, 1)	2.0	0	0	0	0	1	0.00
G. Holland (L, 0-1)	0.0	4	3	3	0	0	27.00
W. Davis	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0.00

Detroit Tigers
HITTERS	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	AVG
V. Reyes, DH	5	1	3	0	0	0	.308
R. Grossman, LF	5	0	1	0	0	1	.190
M. Cabrera, 1B	5	1	1	0	0	0	.273
W. Castro, SS	4	0	1	2	0	0	.227
N. Mazara, RF	4	0	1	0	0	0	.200
J. Candelario, 3B	4	0	2	1	0	1	.278
J. Schoop, 2B	4	1	2	0	0	0	.556
J. Jones, CF	4	1	1	2	0	1	.222
W. Ramos, C	4	1	2	0	0	1	.235
BATTING 2B: J. Candelario (1), J. Schoop (1) HR: J. Jones (1) RBI: W. Castro 2 (4), J. Jones 2 (3), J. Candelario (2)

Detroit Tigers
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
J. Urena	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	7.20
D. Holland	2.1	5	4	4	1	2	8.31
T. Alexander	3.0	2	0	0	0	2	0.00
J. Cisnero	2.0	1	0	0	0	2	0.00
B. Farmer (W, 1-0)	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	0.00