Royals Report: Yordano Ventura’s Complete Game Powers 8-3 KC Win

ImThe KC Royals won their third straight game by downing the Chicago White Sox 8-3 on Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. In a make up game from a rainout earlier this season, Kansas City came out ahead on a day in which each team slammed three home runs.

The Kansas City Royals ran their record to 77-73 with their 8-3 win on Monday afternoon. They pulled within 4.5 games of Toronto for the AL’s second wild card, pending the Blue Jays game against the Mariners in Seattle Monday night.

The Chicago and Kansas City hitters swapped home runs on Monday. However, the White Sox hit three solo shots while the Royals countered with a three-run blast from Kendrys Morales and solo dingers from Alcides Escobar and Paulo Orlando.

Kansas City hitters stroked 12 hits, took one walk, and plated 8 runs on Monday. Aside from the bombs, the Royals scored on an RBI double from Whit Merrifield and two RBI singles from Eric Hosmer.

The big story, however, was starting pitcher Yordano Ventura getting his first career complete game. Ventura allowed 9 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs with 5 strikeouts. All three of Chicago’s scores came on solo home runs, starting with Carlos Sanchez in the first inning. Jose Abreu slammed one an estimate 440 feet over the center field wall in the fourth. Finally, Sanchez hit his second blast of the game in the seventh to finish the scoring for Chicago.

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Ventura’s fastball was particularly impressive in the ninth inning. He finished out the game by striking out White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier with a 98 mph fastball followed by a 99 mph heater. It’s pretty amazing when Ventura can dial up that kind of velocity on his 105th and 106th pitches of the game.

Alcides Escobar got tossed from the field for arguing balls and strikes in the sixth inning after going 1 for 2 with a solo blast in the second. Whit Merrifield also enjoyed another solid outing with a 2 for 5 day that included a double, RBI, 2 runs scored, and a stolen base. Merrifield has been getting good at bats since his return to Kansas City September 2. You have to think that the second base job is his to lose going into spring training in 2017.

Next: Will The Royals Let Edinson Volquez Walk Next Winter?

The Royals still need a miracle to make the 2016 playoffs, but they keep inching closer and closer. Twelve more games to go.