Kansas City Royals Sink Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1

One could forgive Edinson Volquez for perhaps feeling a bit of nostalgia as he gazed across the diamond at his former team. Yet, that did not stop Volquez from pitching well as the Kansas City Royals took a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Matched up against Charlie Morton, the game turned in to an unlikely pitching duel early. In fact, the Pirates got to Volquez first, as Jaff Dacker walked to lead off the third, and moved up to third on Gregory Polanco‘s one out double. A sacrifice fly plated Dakker, as the Pirates took the early 1-0 lead.

The Royals came back in the bottom of the fourth. Morton had been pitching well to that point, but made a mistake to Eric Hosmer, putting his 2-1 fastball right down the middle. Hosmer did not miss, as he launched Morton’s fastball deep to right for a solo home run, tying the game at 1-1.

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The score held up until the bottom of the seventh, as Volquez and Morton matched one another virtually pitch for pitch. Salvador Perez worked a leadoff walk, but was forced out at second on Omar Infante‘s sacrifice bunt attempt. Alex Rios followed with a base hit to but runners at the corners, bringing up Jarrod Dyson. Dyson dropped a bunt down the first base line, plating Infante as his back foot just grazed home before the tag. After review, the call stood, as the Royals took a 2-1 lead.

A strikeout gave the Pirates a chance to escape down by only a run, but Mike Moustakas made sure there would be no question about the final outcome. Given the green light on a 3-0 count, Moustakas unloaded on a sinker up in the zone, depositing his tenth home run of the year into the Pirates bullpen.

That three run home run would prove to be the final blow, as the Kansas City Royals took a 5-1 victory over the Pirates. Volquez had an excellent outing, allowing one run on eight hits and a walk, striking out eight in his 7.2 innings of work.

Hosmer was 2-3 with a home run and a double in the victory.

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