Brandon Finnegan proves mortal in Royals 6-4 loss

A few days ago, it appeared fair to wonder which would happen first – would Brandon Finnegan allow a run, or would the Royals clinch a postseason berth? As it turns out, Finnegan gave up the game tying and go ahead runs in the fifth, as the Cleveland Indians kept their feeble playoff hopes alive, defeating the Royals by a 6-4 margin.

The game did not start well for Kansas City. Starter Jason Vargas looked shaky from the start, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Yan Gomes followed and hammered Vargas’ 0-1 offering over the wall in center to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.

While Vargas continued to struggle, it seemed as though the Indians had the good Trevor Bauer on the mound, at least for the first three innings. However, in the fourth, things started to change. Lorenzo Cain led off with a bunt to the mound for an infield hit, and after moving to second on a groundout, scored on Billy Butler‘s base hit to cut the lead to 3-1.

More from KC Royals News

• KC Royals Rumors: Is a monster move in the cards?
• KC Royals Free Agent Hunt: 3 Tampa Bay pitchers
• Grading the 2022 KC Royals: The $25 million man
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Expectations met
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 3 update

The Royals took the lead in the next inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Eric Hosmer singled, scoring Alcides Escobar to cut the lead to one. Butler followed, and continued his suddenly hot hitting, belting a two run double to give the Royals a 4-3 lead.

However, that lead would not last long. Vargas hit the first batter he faced in the bottom of the fifth with a pitch, and was promptly removed for Brandon Finnegan. As Finnegan had been virtually unhittable, this certainly appeared to be the correct move. Alas, Finengan proved that he is merely a mortal, as Jose Ramirez doubled to deep left center, allowing Michael Born to slide in ahead of the relay home to tie the game. After an infield single put runners at the corners, Carlos Santana grounded into a fielder’s choice, giving the Indians a 5-4 lead.

Cleveland expanded the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Mimicking the Royals small ball style, they managed to push a run across without a hit. Mike Aviles walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. David Murphy followed with a sacrifice fly, giving the Indians a 6-4 lead.

That margin would hold up, as the Indians bullpen held the Royals to only one hit over the final three innings to preserve that 6-4 victory. Brandon Finnegan took the loss, allowing one run and an inherited runner to score on two hits, striking out one in his inning of work.

Butler continued his torrid hitting of late, going 2-4 with a double, a walk and three RBIs in the loss.