Royals Offense Stumbles Again, Fall 4-0 to Rangers

The Royals offense continued to slide Friday night, dropping game one of a three game set with the Texas Rangers 4-0. The loss marked the Royals eighth loss in their last ten games.

The Rangers jumped on the Royals quickly, as Delino DeShields tripled past a diving Lorenzo Cain to lead off the game and scoring on a Shin-Soo Choo groundout.

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Following DeShields triple, Royals starter Edinson Volquez went five hit-less innings before Mitch Moreland led off the 6th with a opposite field homer to make it a 2-0 game.

After singles and stolen bases by Elvis Andrus and Leonys Martin, Robinson Chirinos singled past Omar Infante, playing in with the rest of the infield, to make it a 4-0 contest.

Chirinos’ RBI single wound up chasing Volquez after giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings and striking out six.

The Royals offense threatened in the 7th inning, after a Eric Hosmer infield single and a Kendrys Morales walk put runners on first and second with just one out.

However, Alex Gordon grounded into a double play on the first pitch he saw to kill the rally.

Following the brief rally, Rangers rookie starter Chi Chi Gonzalez went on to retire the next six Royals to end the game.

Gonzalez was brilliant, notching his first career complete game shutout, giving up just three hits on 116 pitches, while striking out two.

Despite striking out just twice, the Royals only saw one base runner advance to second base on the night and managed just five base runners all together.

Notables: 

• Rookie Chi Chi Gonzalez tossed his first career complete game shutout in just his second major league start. Gonzalez was also outstanding in his first career start, notching five no-hit inning to begin his career before a David Ortiz leadoff double in the 6th ended his no-hit bid.
• Mike Moustakas singled to left field in the first inning, giving him 17 opposite field hits in 2015, compared to just 16 pull side hits. In 2014, Moustakas managed just 11 opposite field hits in 268 more at-bats
• The Rangers stole four bases, including three off of starter Edinson Volquez. Coming into tonight, Volquez had surrendered just four stolen bases all season.
• The Royals have now failed to score at least three runs in eight of their last ten games.

Next: Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals, Saturday, June 6, 1:10 p.m., at Kauffman Stadium; LHP Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 3.55 ERA) vs. RHP Yordano Ventura (3-4, 4.26 ERA)

Next: Royals-Rangers Series Preview