Blind Quarterback Plays Baseball: Week 3

My beautiful daughter and I sporting our Royals' blue

Royal’s Round Up

4 Game Series Against the Mariners
All Royals fans are recovering this morning after the emotional roller coaster that was last week of Royals’ baseball. It started on Monday, when the red hot Seattle Mariners rode into town for a 4 game series at the K. The bullpen struggled and sadly, our Boys in Blue did not claim any of those games as wins, but the series wasn’t devoid of moments of true Royals’ baseball. 

4 Game Series Against the Mariners:

Even during a loss, I listened to Jorge Soler smash a ball at bat, giving Terrence Gore enough time to run from second to third and go ahead and sprint those last 90 feet home. Wednesday night was my highlight in this series in Whit Merrifield’s bunt for an RBI single hit off Mariners’ pitcher Matt Festa. This was Merrifield’s 31^st consecutive hit, breaking the record held previously by Royals’ legend George Brett. Unfortunately, that night, Royals had bases loaded and were down by one run. With Adalberto Mondesi at the plate, needing a hit to tie it and a homer to win. With two outs, Mondesi ended the game with a fly out and Seattle snatched the victory. 

The next day Merrifield’s hitting streaked ended as he went 0-6 for over ten innings. At the top of the ninth, the Royals had 2 outs and 2 men on base. They just needed one more strike to walk away with the victory. Mariners’ outfielder, Mitch Haniger swung his bat, connecting firmly with the ball and knocking it into center field. Center fielder, Billy Hamilton attempted to field it, but the ball bounced from his glove and he fall to the ground with a leg injury. This mishap led to Haniger driving in a triple and catcher, Omar Narvaez, and second baseman, Dee Gordon crossed home plate, scoring two runs to tie the game at 6. Eventually, the Mariners would take home the win in the 10^th inning.

3 Game Series Against the Indians:

The Royals came back with a vengeance to make up for this losing series with the Mariners when divisional rivals, Cleveland Indians visited K starting on Friday for a 3 game series. Royals’ bats were on fire and the bullpen vastly improved as the Royals swept the series, winning all three games. At the end of the last game of the series, the Royals claimed a 9-8 victory, thanks to the single RBI hit off the bat of Hunter Dozier. The hit brought Terrence Gore home, sealing the victory and the series sweep for the Royals over the Indians and allow me to witness my first walk off win.

Up Next:

The Royals have a particularly rough road trip of 10 games before finally returning home to Kauffman Stadium. First they head to Chicago to face off against divisional rivals the White Sox in a 3 game series. Next they head to the Big Apple to face the evil Empire, the New York Yankees in a 4 game series. The Yankees don’t have to be a divisional rival to earn Royals’ fans hatred and scorn. Before they head home, making a pit stop in Tampa Bay, Florida for a 3 game series with the Rays.

Hot Batters:

Tim Anderson
I am paying careful attention this week to White Sox shortstop, Tim Anderson. Anderson has the leading batting average in the American League with .429 as well as 3 homers, 10 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.

Elvis Andrus

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has also earned the title “Hot Batter”. In this past week, his batting average has ranked .414, in addition to 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

Around The League:

There are many records held in great esteem in the world of Major League Baseball, but a record that no player wants to hold is longest consecutive streak of at bats without a hit. This rather dubious honor, goes to Baltimore Orioles’ 1^st basemen Chris Davis. Davis went a record 54 at bats without a single hit, 30 of those from this current season and 24 in the previous season. On Saturday, Davis’s streak of futility would end with a bases loaded single liner, not only giving him his first hit in 54 at bats, but his first RBI as well.

On this day in Baseball History, April 15, 1947, was the first day of Jackie Robinson’s major league baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was the first African American to play Major League baseball, a feat which he accomplished with dignity, class and grace. In honor of Robinson, the uniform number 42 has been retired in every major league ball park across America. Incidentally, Robinson once played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues.

Ask the Old Dog:

"The one word I would use for Royals this week is improvement. At the end of a 10 game losing streak the Royals swept a divisional rival that has dominated the Central the past few years. Royals’ offensive numbers continue. Merrifield broke the hitting streak of George Brett. Gordon continues his offensive numbers. Overall offense looked good against Cleveland. There still is concern in the bullpen but they had a few hiccups but overall did well holding Indians late. Something they couldn’t do against the hot Mariners earlier in week. The starters went at least six innings each had high pitch counts but worked themselves out of trouble for the most part. As Fillmyer takes the mound tonight against the White Sox. The Sox are 5-9 and taking this division series is important. We end the week in the Bronx playing the Yankees. Let’s hope the bullpen continues to improve and our starters stay late in the games.”