Kansas City Royals Ride Productive Outs to 7-1 Win

Jeremy Guthrie gave the Kansas City Royals six shutout innings in his third quality start in as many outings, as the Royals downed the Reds 7-1 Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

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 went with a throwback victory from 2014, scoring four of their five runs on outs, with Salvador Perez RBI single to cap off a three-run fourth inning being the lone run scored on a hit.

Guthrie found himself in some early trouble, loading the bases on a single and two consecutive walks in the top of the first with only one out, but managed to retire the next two hitters and escape unscathed in vintage Guthrie fashion.

The Royals went quietly in the bottom of the first as Jason Marquis retired the first three Royals of the game on just 12 pitches in his first start since 2009. However, Eric Hosmer continued his hot hitting in the second inning, leading off with a double to right. After advancing to third on a Kendrys Morales groundout, Hosmer scored on an Alex Gordon sac fly to put the Royals up 1-0.

The Royals added three more runs in the fourth, first on a Hosmer fielder’s choice, followed by a Morales sac fly, and finally capped off with Perez’s RBI single.

Lorenzo Cain added another run the following inning on an RBI double play, driving in Paulo Orlando.

Ryan Madson came on to pitch the 7th and gave up an RBI double to Brandon Phillips, scoring Zach Cozart, and being the first run given up by the Royals pitching staff in 24 2/3 innings.

The Royals added two more in the bottom of the 8th, on yet another Morales RBI double and a Gordon single, driving in Lorenzo Cain and Morales, respectively.

Luke Hochevar shut the door in the top of the 9th as the Royals improved to 25-14.

Notables:

• The Royals improved to 12-games over .500. The 2014 Royals didn’t reach that plateau until August 10.
• With his six shutout innings, Jeremy Guthrie recorded his third quality start in his last three outings. In those three outings, he has given up just four runs in 18 1/3 innings. His ERA has crawled down to 4.75.
• Salvador Perez walked

Next: The Royals are off Thursday before hosting the Cardinals for three games in Kauffman Stadium. RHP Chris Young (3-0, 0.94 ERA) takes the mound against RHP Lance Lynn (3-3, 2.96 ERA). The game is set to begin at 7:10 p.m. CT.

Next: Royals Offense Driving the Bus