Oakland Athletics overpower Kansas City Royals, 5-2: MLB Update
The collective effort from the Oakland Athletics’ batters and pitchers resulted in their Club’s 5-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals at the Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City on May 8.
Coco Crisp took a start for the Athletics and led off with 2-0 in the first inning when the Royals’ third baseman Wilson Betemit committed a throwing error. Daric Barton also hit a shot and completed one-run for the Athletics. Conor Jackson went 3-for-5,
but did not add even a single run for his team. There was no score from second to fifth inning.
Kevin Kouzmanoff struck a solo homer in the sixth inning. The Royals’ batters failed to score a single run until the fifth inning. However, Melky Cabrera made an infield single towards the first base on contribution with Eric Hosmer who drove a two-out double
and the Royals were able to cut-off their deficit to 3-2 at the end of sixth inning.
Jeff Francoeur was unable to complete a second run on the grounder of Hosmer. Francoeur scooped the ball over the shortstop fielder Cliff Pennington, but it sailed down between the second and third base. The runners did not made a single and got out at the
plate.
The Athletics’ Manager Bob Geren was contended with the way pitchers threw the ball. He said, “I don't know any other pitcher who can make that play. He closed like a horse in a horse race. I had a feeling he was going to get the out, but I was just hoping
he didn't hurt himself. It's a dangerous play for a pitcher, but the athleticism kicks in.”
The seventh inning again passed away without score. Mark Ellis singled in the eighth inning to extend the lead 4-2. Kurt Suzuki struck a one-run homer in the ninth inning to take the lead 5-2 for the Athletics. The Royals were outclassed in the last three
innings as they did not put a single run in that period.
The Athletics’ starter, Tyson Ross, pitched superbly as he permitted just two runs on six hits with two earned runs in six inning pitches. He gave away three walks to the Royals and struck out four batters.
Ross said of game tactics, “I did everything in my power to get over there. It was a foot race and I'm not too fast. I saw Kouz get the ball. Him and Francoeur kind of looked at each. Kouz gave me a good feed and I'm just lucky I'm tall and was able to cut
him off short.”
On the other side, the Royals’ starter Jeff Francis was a little bit expensive as he allowed three runs on eight hits in 6 1/2 inning pitches. He struck out two hitters and gave away one walk.
Tags: