Royals Report: 4 Things About Father’s Day Walk-off Win

4) Chris Young Got It Done On Father’s Day

Starting Chris Young has been something of an adventure in the 2016 season. He’s given up more home runs than any pitcher in baseball, an absurd 19 home runs in 51.1 innings pitched. Some days, it felt like Chris Young was throwing batting practice out there, especially in his starts in Yankee Stadium and Jacobs Field earlier this season.

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Of course, Chris Young’s fly ball tendencies are much better suited to the massive Kauffman Stadium. His home and away splits are extreme this season: Young had a 3.00 ERA at home coming into Sunday’s game, with a 9.70 ERA on the road.

Gosh, maybe Chris Young only start games in Kansas City. However, that makes too much sabermetric sense for KC Royals manager Ned Yost. If he did something like that, his clubhouse might think he had been replaced by a statistically-oriented space alien—or that he’s suffering from low testosterone syndrome.

So, it’s not at all surprising that Chris Young pitched well on Sunday. He lasted 6.0 innings, giving up a mere 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 earned run, with 7 strikeouts. Young did give up a solo home run in the third inning, but he still left with the game tied 1-1 before the seventh inning.

Really, you couldn’t ask for anything more.

That is, of course, if we’re talking about Chris Young. If we’re talking about Ned Yost, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF BASEBALL, DON’T START CHRIS YOUNG IN A BANDBOX. Chris Young is a SPOT STARTER, which means USING HIM IN THE RIGHT SITUATIONS!

On Sunday, the Kansas City Royals beat a top of the rotation starter (Jordan Zimmerman) with their no. 5 pitcher because the game took place in a park where Chris Young is likely to succeed.

Next: Paulo Orlando

3) Paulo Orlando‘s Bunt Was A Big Play

Winning a 2-1 game often comes down to who can scratch out a run under tough circumstances. In the top of the 13th inning, the Royals caught a break when Salvdor Perez singled to begin the inning, and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera‘s error allowed pinch runner Lorenzo Cain to advance to second. 

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That blunder caused the Tigers to walk Kendrys Morales with first base open, then Paulo Orlando laid down an excellent bunt, with Detroit expecting the play, to advance the runners to second and third. Orlando’s success at executing this fundamental play caused the Tigers to again issue an intentional walk to set up a force at any base.

In the end, that left Cheslor Cuthbert at the plate with the bases loaded and one out—all because Paulo Orlando succeeded in making a useful out. Cuthbert singled to left, to win the game 2-1.

In many ways, you have to say Paulo Orlando’s bunt was the play of the game. Orlando also just missed a home run when his double off Jordan Zimmerman slammed off the top of the wall in left center.  Orlando’s double moved the slow-footed Kendrys Morales to third base, who then scored on Brett Eibner‘s ground out up the middle.

Thus, although Orlando’s 1 for 4 line in the box score says he neither scored or drove in a run, he played a key role in both of the Kansas City Royals tallies on Father’s Day.

Next: Garbage Men

2) Even The Garbage Men In The KC Royals Bullpen Are Good

When teams go deep into games like the Royals and Tigers did Sunday night, you really see the depth of both bullpens. Of course, the KC Royals have an almost unfair advantage over any team in baseball in such a situation, because not only are their top bullpen arms dominant, their depth is unmatched in major-league baseball.

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So it felt like only a matter of time when the game got to guys like Peter Moylan and Chien-Ming Wang for the Kansas City Royals and Carlos Rodon and Kyle Ryan for the Tigers. Even though spoiled KC Royals fans cringe when guys like Moylan and Wang get into the game, both sport quite respectable 3.00 ERAs. That’s better than a lot of team’s primary set-up. For Kansas City, they’re mop up guys.

Of course, it gets harder for teams to score runs deep into extra innings since the hitters get mentally worn down. Nine innings day after day is enough of a grind. Add another hour on top of that, and a lot of minds turn to mush.

That’s not a good thing when you’re trying to hit a fastball travelling faster than 90 mph.

Wang, in fact, has a perfect 4-0 record, largely because he usually gets in games that are so out of hand that he’ll doesn’t have many chances to get tabbed with a loss. He pretty much only has a chance for upside (wins), and with the KC Royals comeback tendencies, he could finish the season with double digit wins.

Of course, that’s much less impressive in an era that discounts pitcher wins as a stat.

Next: Cheslor Cuthbert

1) Cheslor Cuthbert Didn’t Miss This Party

Saturday night, Cheslor Cuthbert was the only starter not to get a hit as the rest of Kansas City Royals teammates battered Tigers pitching for 20 hits and 16 runs (both season highs). Cuthbert was also 0-4 coming into his 13th inning at bat, which means he had made outs nine times in a row.

Cuthbert arrived late on Sunday, but his single with the bases loaded gave the KC Royals a walkoff win.

Talking about picking your spot. Cheslor Cuthbert certainly got bang for the buck with his one hit in the last two days.

Cuthbert is a key man in the KC Royals season. They really need him to be a solid major-league regular at third base in place of Mike Moustakas. Cuthbert is clearly getting it done in the field. If anything, the 23-year-old Cuthbert is an upgrade over Moustakas with the glove, and Moose is no slouch at third base.

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Cuthbert’s Dad is a lobster fisherman in Nicaragua. Since Father’s Day falls during lobster season in South America, his Dad is always working—including Sunday, even though his son is now a rather well-heeled major league player (true even for a guy making the $500k league minimum). Here’s to hoping Cheslor’s Dad likes the Father’s Day gift his son gave him on Sunday after he finishes his day’s work and, perhaps, logs onto the internet.

I know Kansas City Royals fans think it was the perfect gift.