Royals Report: 5 Things About Whit Merrifield Day Vs. Indians

3) Offense Pounded Out 11 Hits Despite Only Scoring 2 Runs

The KC Royals stranded a lot of base-runners on Monday, plating only 2 of 12. Even with the team’s failure to get the big hit with runners on base, 11 hits following games with 11, 9, and 12 is a good showing after six games of scoring one run or less.

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The changed fortunes on offense correlated with Ned Yost shaking up the batting order in Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Despite losing 7-5, the KC Royals pounded out 12 hits and broke a scoring slump. Yost has stuck with a similar order ever since, with the most prominent difference moving rookie Whit Merrifield to leadoff in place of Alcides Escobar.

However, the offensive bounce-back also followed a much-needed off day after the Royals had lost the first seven games of the road trip. While they did lose their eighth straight game after the break, the offense had clearly gotten its bearings back.

I attribute the rebound more to the off day that allowed the team to get away from the grind of seven straight defeats, than the change in the lineup. However, I don’t blame Yost for sticking with that lineup. I just wish he had moved Escobar to the bottom of the order rather than inserting him into the no. 2 spot.

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