Royals Report: 4 Things About Monday's Return To Citi Field

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Jun 21, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (13) and right fielder Curtis Granderson (3) react after the New York Mets defeated the Kansas City Royals 2-1 at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

The Royals dropped a tight 2-1 decision to the New York Mets in Citi Field on Monday night, breaking KC’s three game winning streak. New York Mets fans had to be relieved not to see the Kansas City Royals snatch the game away in the late innings like they did in the 2015 World Series.

2. 3. 1. 7. Final

The Royals fell to 38-32, and two games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. The Mets improved to 37-32 and pulled within 4.5 games of the Nationals in the NL East.

When the KC Royals fell behind by two runs after solo shots from Asdrubal Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes, KC fans couldn’t have been too worried after watching their team pull off four comebacks against the Mets in the 2015 World Series.

This time, however, the Mets held on for the win—much to the delight of their home fans.

The loss snapped the KC Royals modest two game winning streak on the road. Kansas City is now a miserable 13-24 away from Kauffman Stadium this season, and need to turn this problem around if they wish to defend their title.

Along with the loss, catcher Salvador Perez went 0-4 to end his 11-game hitting streak.

On to my observations about Monday’s game:

Next: Ian Kennedy

Jun 15, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (31) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

4) Ian Kennedy Again Has Problems On The Road

Ian Kennedy lasted 4.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, and 2 solo home runs. It wasn’t a terrible outing, but does reveal how vulnerable the fly ball pitcher Kennedy is away from the expansive dimensions of Kauffman Stadium.

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Monday’s performance continued a season-long trend in which Ian Kennedy has struggled on the road. Kennedy’s current home/road splits show a massive difference. Kennedy sports an impressive 2.35 ERA at home with 35 strikeouts in 31.0 innings pitched while giving up only 3 home runs. On the road, Kennedy’s ERA bloats to 5.44 with only 37 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, while allowing an outrageous 13 home runs.

That’s ridiculous.

While it’s certainly encouraging that Ian Kennedy is effective at Kauffman Stadium, he needs to improve on the road for him to become an effective long-term starter for the KC Royals. Let’s hope his recent troubles are a short-term artifact rather than a long-term problem.

If Kennedy can’t clean up his road performance, he’s nothing more than a no. 4 pitcher in the Kansas City Royals rotation.

By the way, Kennedy wasn’t worn down after four innings. Kennedy had only thrown 72 pitches and probably was good for two more inning. KC Royals manager Ned Yost pulled him for pinch hitter Kendrys Morales in the fifth inning with two runners on base and no outs.

Next: Ned Yost

Jun 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) signs autographs before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

3) Ned Yost Made A Good Move Pulling Ian Kennedy

I’ve freely criticized moves by Ned Yost on Kings of Kauffman numerous times both this season and last. So, it only seems fair for me to write about good decisions as well.

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On Monday, Yost pulled pitcher Ian Kennedy after only four innings in favor of pinch hitter Kendrys Morales with two runners on base and no outs in the KC Royals fifth inning. Down only by two runs, yanking his starting pitcher was a bit of an unconventional move, but I believe Yost made a wise choice.

As I showed above, Ian Kennedy has been very shaky on the road this season and had already given up two solo home runs. He was hardly dominating the game and the Mets possess the third best bullpen ERA in baseball. Mets long reliever Hansel Robles had struck out 6 in 3.2 innings before giving up two hits to open the fifth inning.

Allowing Ian Kennedy to hit would have gifted a wobbling pitcher a free out. By bringing in Kendrys Morales, Yost forced Mets skipper Terry Collins to dip into his bullpen and replace Robles with Erik Goeddel.

Morales blasted a deep drive to right that fell just short of a game-changing three-run dinger. Even though it didn’t work, Yost correctly perceived the texture of the game he was in and made a good move to improve his chances for a big inning.

Kudos, Ned Yost.

Next: No Late Game Magic For Royals

Jun 21, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; General view as the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals play during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

2) Don’t Be Disappointed By The Royals Failure To Steal A Late Victory

I must confess, I was waiting for the KC Royals to steal the game away from the Mets. I mean, we’d seen them do it four times last October and, by now, a late-game Kansas City Royals rally seemed part of the script.

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As great of a comeback team that the Royals are, they’re just not going to pull it off in every close game. Not only is it impossible for any team to regularly tap into playoff intensity during the regular season. Further, there’s a reason that ESPN data considered late-inning comebacks as rather unlikely. It’s because they’re HARD.

No one defies long odds forever.

The fact is, the New York Mets have one of the best bullpens in the game with a 3.11 ERA. They have an elite closer in Jeurys Familia and a deep pool of effective arms. New York recovered admirably after starter Bartolo Colon left the game in the first inning after throwing a mere four pitches when Whit Merrifield blasted a come-backer to the mound that Colon missed with his glove before hitting his right thumb.

That’s not a failure by the Royals. Monday was more about the Mets relievers performing up to their high standard.

Hey, if repeating were easy, then it wouldn’t be much of a charge when your team has a chance to pull it off.

Next: Alex Gordon

May 11, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) hits a sacrifice fly against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

1) Royals Say Alex Gordon Can Return As Soon As Next Weekend

The best news of the day was the KC Royals telling reporters on Monday that Alex Gordon could return this weekend for Kansas City’s series against the Astros, presuming he suffers no setbacks.

That’s a boon for an offense that has scored three runs in the last two games.

Gordon is 3 for 6 in his rehab assignment at NW Arkansas, with a double and a home run. Not only can the Kansas City Royals offense use his left-handed bat, but his veteran presence in the clubhouse can’t hurt.

Yes, Gordon was hitting a rather unimpressive .211/.319/.331 with 3 home runs before breaking a bone in his wrist May 23 in a now-infamous collision with third baseman Mike Moustakas in Chicago. But, everyone knows he’s better than that. There’s a reason he’s a three-time All-Star.

Next: Can Danny Duffy Stay Healthy For The Entire Season?

If nothing else, Alex Gordon’s return will return most of the KC Royals championship core to the lineup. That can’t hurt.

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Royals Report: 4 Things About Monday’s Return To Citi Field

The Royals dropped a tight 2-1 decision to the New York Mets in Citi Field on Monday night, breaking KC’s three game winning streak. New York Mets fans had to be relieved not to see the Kansas City Royals snatch the game away in the late innings like they did in the 2015 World Series.

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