Kansas City Royals sweep past Houston Astros with 5-1 victory
David Eulitt
The Kansas City Royals completed their second straight series sweep of the Houston Astros (dating back to last year) with a 5-1 victory Thursday night.
The game was pitched to near perfection by Royals Starter James Shields. Shields had the most strikeouts for a pitcher dressed in Royals Blue colours since Zack Greinke had 12 in 2010, and helped solidify the team’s third straight win. At one point, Shields struck out 7 in a row (9 of 10) as he climbed to second all-time in the Royals consecutive strikeouts list (behind Blake Stein’s 8). This brought the series total K count to 37 in the 3 games with Houston. To go with the strikeouts, Shields only gave up one run on 4 singles through 8 innings.
To compliment Shields’ quality start was a Royal outburst of runs. This influx could have been a direct result of Ned Yost’s retooled line-up and approach on the base paths. Yost switched struggling designated hitter Billy Butler, and standout catcher Salvy Perez in the 4 and 6 spots of the line-up. Salvy ended up with an RBI and a hit, and Butler a hit and a walk, and ended up scoring a run on an Alicdes Escobar double. Butler commented after the game that he did feel more comfortable being placed lower in the lineup with his recent struggles.
Jarrod Dyson and Omar Infante were the lone pair of hitless Royals in the lineup for Kansas City.
Alex Gordon notched the only multi-hit performance of the game with two hits, with Billy Butler also reaching base twice with a hit and a walk.
Wade Davis was called in to finish the game in the 9th, and after allowing a leadoff single, proceeded to set down the next 3 Astros he faced. He now has a 3.24 ERA on this young season and is beginning to solidify himself as a solid option for late inning relief.
The Royals now head back to Kansas City for a three-game tilt against the Twins of Minnesota beginning Friday night. The Royals are hoping to get retribution after being swept by the Twins in Minnesota earlier on the road trip. KC will put Jason Vargas on the mound to counter Ricky Nolasco for the Twins.
Note:
The most important thing coming out of this game was not the bounce back start by “Big Game” James, the continuation of the magic number of 4 for the Royals offence, or the great play Alex Gordon made in Left. No, it was learning that on May 16th the Royals are finally bringing back the greatest sporting fashion statement the Truman Sports Complex has ever seen…ZUBAZ Night! I for one was a child born in Zubaz, and my dad may have more than three different pairs. I have been waiting for 10 (or more) long years for this day to come, and it is finally here! So to you, the slightly whiskey tango marketing director that had this brain child, I salute you!