Royals Report: Edinson Volquez Pitches KC To 4-2 Win

The Royals notched their fourth straight win Friday night with a 4-2 victory over the Oakland A’s to open a three-game weekend series.

With every player on both teams wearing no. 42 to honor Jackie Robinson, the Royals got to Oakland starter Rich Hill immediately by scoring two runs in the first. Alcides Escobar and Omar Infante started off the game with singles, followed by a third base hit from Lorenzo Cain that scored Escobar and advanced Infante to third. However, cleanup hitter Eric Hosmer grounded into a double play which scored Infante.

The A’s countered in the bottom of the second with a leadoff home run from catcher Stephen Vogt.

The Royals then scratched out their third run in the third inning on Cain’s leadoff walk, Hosmer’s grounder to second to advance Cain, and Kendrys Morales RBI single up the middle to score Cain.

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The A’s pulled within one run in the fourth on a single by Vogt, Jed Lowrie‘s grounder to KC Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, and Kris Davis RBI single.

The teams traded zeros until the top of the ninth inning when Eric Hosmer slammed a one out home run (1) to dead center field off lefty reliever Sean Doolittle who had been brought in to face Hosmer.

Kansas City Royals starter Edinson Volquez recorded his third straight win and his second quality start of the season.

Wade Davis shut down the A’s in the ninth to earn his fifth save in a Kansas City Royals 4-2 win.

Fantasy Note:

Kansas City Edison Volquez is hot right now. He’s won his first three starts of the 2016 season, with a 2.04 ERA and two Quality Starts. He’s only owned in 81.6% of ESPN fantasy leagues, so he might be available. If he’s unclaimed, grab him—even if you don’t need a starting pitcher. Someone in your league does, and he’ll be a hot trade commodity.

Key Hitting Performances:

Kansas City Royals:

Alcides Escobar: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 Run

Omar Infante: 2-5, 1 2b, 1 Run

Lorenzo Cain: 1-3, 2 BB, 1 Run, 1 RBI

Kendrys Morales: 3-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI

Eric Hosmer: 1-5, 1 Run, 1 RBI, 1 HR (1)

Oakland A’s:

Stephen Vogt: 3-4, 2 Runs, 1 RBI, 1 HR (1)

Key Pitching Performances:

Kansas City Royals:

Edinson Volquez: 6.0 IP 4 H, 4 BB, 2 ER, 2 K, W (3-0)

Wade Davis: 1.0 IP, 1 K, SV 5

Oakland A’s:

Rich Hill: 4.1 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, 6 K

Next: Healthy Omar Infante Provides Offensive Boost At 2B

Next Game

The KC Royals take on the A’s for the second game of the series, sending Chris Young (o-2, 7.45 ERA) to the mound against Chris Bassitt (0-0, 2.92 ERA) for Oakland, Saturday, 3:05 CST at the Oakland Coliseum April 16.