KC Royals Fall to Rangers 5-2 as Yordano Ventura Struggles

Yordano Ventura surrendered five runs on 10 hits over seven innings, including two home runs, as the KC Royals fell to the Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Each of the Rangers first five hitters reached base, including a leadoff home run from Shin-Soo Choo, before Ventura recorded an out. Following the Choo home run, Elvis Andrus walked and Prince Fielder singled before Adrian Beltre singled, driving in Andrus.

Mitch Moreland singled off the wall in right field, holding Fielder at third. Ventura struck out the next two hitters, including former Royal Carlos Peguero, before getting Thomas Field to line out to end the inning.

The next inning, the Royals threatened with an Eric Hosmer single and Alex Gordon walk before Salvador Perez grounded into double play. Perez entered the night hitting .184 in May after hitting .326 in April.

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The Rangers struck again in the bottom of the 2nd on a Fielder two run homer to make it a 4-0 game.

After a Delino DeShields triple, Choo grounded out to Omar Infante, scoring DeShields, making it a 5-0 game.

The Royals finally got to Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo in the 7th on a Kendrys Morales double to right field, scoring Lorenzo Cain, and making it a 5-1 game. The double gave Morales 12 on the season, tying him for the American League lead. Perez followed Morales’ double with a double of his own, bringing the Royals within three at 5-2.

However, the Royals never got closer, as the Rangers bullpen retired the final six Royals and taking the third game of the four game set. The Royals now sit at 21-13 after the loss but stay in first place after the Tigers lost to the Twins 6-2.

Notables:

• Yordano Ventura‘s ERA is now up to 5.36. Four of the five Royals starters have an ERA over 5, yet the Royals still entered the night with a 3.46 ERA, third best in the American League. If you needed any more reasons why the bullpen is awesome.
• The first five Royals hitters all went 1-4. That made the notables because it was just that kind of night

Next: Kansas City Royals vs. Texas Rangers, Thursday May 14, 1:05 p.m., at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington; RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-2, 5.70 ERA) vs. LHP Ross Detwiler (0-4, 7.22 ERA)

Next: Royals and Tigers Rivalry: Best in Baseball