Yordano Ventura Earns First Career Win in Royals 4-2 Victory

Apr 15, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

With the way Yordano Ventura had pitched in the early going, it was a matter of time before he notched his first career win. Thankfully, the Houston Astros were willing to help make that a reality.

Omar Infante gave the Royals an early lead, belting a a 2-0 pitch from Astros starter Lucas Harrell for his first home run of the season, giving Ventura a 1-0 lead before he even took the mound.

Yordano Ventura gave the run right back. With runners on the corners and two outs, Ventura threw a fastball past Eric Hosmer on an attempted pickoff, allowing Dexter Fowler to score to tie the game. Ventura settled in from that point, and it appeared as though this would end up as yet another low scoring affair for the Royals.

Kansas City got some help from the Astros defense, specifically Robbie Grossman, in the third. Lorenzo Cain led off with a hard hit single that Grossman failed to cut off, allowing Cain to reach third. Nori Aoki walked with one out, and Infante hit into a fielder’s choice to put the Royals back on top. Hosmer followed with a double off the wall that Grossman misplayed, allowing Infante to score from first to give the Royals a 3-1 lead. A sacrifice fly from Billy Butler in the fifth extended the lead to 4-1.

Ventura, meanwhile, because carving up the Astros lineup, setting down 11 of the nest 12 hitters he faced after the failed pickoff. Keeping the Astors off balance, he kept Houston at bay until Carlos Corporan hit a solo home run just over a leaping Aoki to cut the lead to 4-2.

Although the Astros threatened again in the seventh, they failed to score again. Yordano Ventura pitched well, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks. While he was not as dominant as he was in his debut, Ventura still struck out seven, making the Astros seem completely helpless at times.

Wade Davis and Greg Holland closed out the game by striking out five of the six batters they faced, as the Royals snapped their three game losing streak. Hosmer and Cain each had two hits for the Royals in the victory.