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

The Royals finished their seven-game homestand with a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Father’s Day at Kauffman Stadium. The KC Royals went 6-1 during their latest stay in their home digs, including three straight wins to finish off their four-game series against the Tigers.

The Kansas City Royals improved to 38-31 and remain 0.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. The Tigers fell to 34-35, and are now 4.5 games behind Cleveland in 4th place.

The KC Royals provided a happy ending to Father’s Day barbecues across Kansas City by pulling out a 13-inning win over Detroit. After blasting the Tigers with 20 hits and 16 runs, less than 16 hours later, the Royals couldn’t seem to buy a score.

Fortunately, Tigers hitters had a similarly tough time against Kansas City Royals fifth starter Chris Young, which allowed the Royals to eek out a win with two scores. Hey, the one-run nail biter counts as much as yesterdays take down in the standings.

On to my observations about Sunday’s game:

Next: Chris Young

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.