Royals Report: 5 Things About Mini-Sweep In St. Louis

5) Have Cardinals Fans Given Up Crying About Don Denkinger?

For years, like clockwork, we’d see another round of Twitter wailing about Don Denkinger’s blown call in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series from St. Louis Cardinals fans. Every time the two teams faced one another in their annual inter-league match-up, multiple St. Louis fans bought up the play.

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St.Louis Cardinals fans continued to blame Denkinger’s call for their team’s loss in 1985, forgetting that their players completely lost their composure in Game 6. Multiple Cardinals blunders in the field did far more than Denkinger to help the KC Royals walk-off win.

Of course, Cardinals fans conveniently failed to mention that their team lost 11-0 the following day in Game 7 when they still had a chance to win.

Either Cardinals fans figure that 30 years is long enough, or that trying to troll the defending champions about something that happened 30 years ago would just make them look pathetic.

Either way, I’m glad to see the end of that nonsense. Denkinger didn’t lose the 1985 World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals. Their players did that all by themselves. Teams that deserve to win a title don’t melt down like the Cardinals did in 1985.

Maybe the current generation of St. Louis fans watched the KC Royals win three come from behind victories in the 2015 World Series and realized just how stupid they sounded.

We can only hope.

Next: Chris Young

4) Chris Young Wobbles Through Four Innings

Struggling KC Royals starter Chris Young gave up only one hit and one run on (what else?) a solo home run. That line sounds like he was pretty good. Not so.

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Chris Young was LUCKY to give up a mere one run, even though he allowed only one hit and struck out 5.

The key stat that I haven’t mentioned is that Young gave up 6 walks—in four innings. Young walked three batters in the first inning alone, and gave up a number of hard hit fly balls that barely stayed in the yard. Fortunately for the Kansas City Royals, none of those warning track shots fell for a hit.

Oh, and that one hit? Brandon Moss mashed a Chris Young gopher ball 477 feet into the upper deck in right field. It was the longest home run in new Busch Stadium history.

No matter how fortunate Chris Young might have been, he still left the game after four innings leading 2-1. Though it took him 91 pitches and he didn’t last long enough to earn a decision, you have to admit he did his job on Thursday night.

Next: Mike Matheny

3) Frustrated Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny Got Tossed

In the sixth inning, the Cardinals appeared to turn an inning ending double play. However, first base umpire Jordan Baker decided to use an umpire’s review to check the video.

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After both teams had left the field and the TV broadcasts had gone to commercial, Baker called both teams back because review showed that Salvador Perez had beaten the throw.

Matheny came out from the Cardinals dugout, angry that the call had taken so long. Pitcher Mike Leake had to return after cooling down for at least two to three minutes after his last pitch.

Of course, Matheny had quite a few things to be unhappy about. The Cardinals were riding a seven game home losing streak and were trailing the KC Royals 3-1 in the sixth. Baker’s call gave the Royals another chance to add to their lead.

Add in that the Cardinals had committed three errors on the day, and each one of them had aided a KC Royals score, and Mike Matheny was a very unhappy camper. I’m sure part of that rage ended up getting directed at Baker.

Next: Kendrys Morales

2) Yeah, Kendrys Morales Is Still Crushing The Ball

I’m sure my regular readers are almost getting tired of me writing about how hot Kendrys Morales is at the plate, except you’re probably enjoying Morales hot streak so much that any reminder of it is entirely welcome.

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Morales extended his streak of multi-hit games to six by going 3 for 4 Thursday night, with 2 doubles, 1 home run (11), 1 run scored, and 2 RBIs. Calling him hot is something of an insult. Kendrys Morales is driving opponents to insanity.

His home run on Thursday flew an estimated 456 feet, which ties a record for longest opponent home run hit in new Busch Stadium. Over his last six games, Morales is an improbable 16 for 24 with 3 doubles, 3 home runs, and 6 RBIs.

Yeah, I’d say a .667 batting average is adequate.

Kendrys Morales recent streak has given him a respectable .262/.324/.437 triple slash with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs. He’s almost erased his horrible first two months, even though he’s not quite up to last season’s Silver-Slugger standards.

Morales also played right field for the second straight night without incident. Given his crazy hot bat, it’s pretty much a certainty that Ned Yost will keep him in the lineup as the road trip continues to another National League city at Philadelphia.

Kendys Morales play the last six games has made Lorenzo Cain‘s absence something of afterthought. That won’t last, but Morales is certainly softening the blow.

Next: Road Mojo

1) Will Road Sweep Fix Royals Road Mojo?

It’s no secret that the Kansas City Royals have been awful on the road this season. Even with two straight victories over the Cardinals in St. Louis, the KC Royals are still a terrible 15-25 away from Kauffman Stadium this season.

Maybe, just maybe, a sweep over their cross-state rival will restore their confidence when venturing outside their home park.

On the other side of the coin, the Cardinals have lost eight straight at home. Though this series pitted an easily movable object against a very resistable force, the KC Royals will take it. Now Kansas City will continue on to play three road games against the slumping Philadelphia Phillies.

If the Kansas City Royals can take two out of three games in Philly, they just might have a winning trip to hang their hat on. Heck, even one more victory will give the Royals a winning trip.

Next: Royals Getting The Best Catching In Baseball

The KC Royals really need to get straightened out on the road. With the Indians winning their 13th straight game, the Royals can’t continue to give up ground in the AL Central by poor play whenever they leave the friendly ambiance of their home park.