MLB Team Report – Kansas City Royals – INSIDE PITCH
Nate Adcock threw 58 pitches and three innings Monday night. Luis Mendoza threw 77 pitches and 4 2/3 innings Sunday.
That left the Royals’ two long relievers unavailable for Tuesday night’s game against the Red Sox. The due had been called into extended duty because the starters, Jonathan Sanchez and Luke Hochevar, had lasted a total of 5 1/3 innings.
Wanting another arm for the long role, the Royals called up Vin Mazzaro from Class AAA Omaha, where he was 1-0 with a 4.37 ERA in six starts. Mazzaro, however, reported to the bullpen.
While Danny Duffy lasted just 4 1/3 innings Tuesday, manager Ned Yost used three other relievers instead of Mazzaro as the Royals came from behind to beat Boston 6-4.
With the Royals rotation having difficulty going deep into games, the club is obligated to carry three long relievers.
“It’s not a situation you want to be in for sure,” Yost said. “But our focus is working every day to get this straightened out. We’ll continue that.”
Yost pointed out that Mazzaro was scheduled to start Tuesday for Omaha.
“We have to have protection tonight,” Yost said. “You can keep your fingers crossed and hope that nothing happens because generally it doesn’t, but you still have to have that protection.”
Any chance Mazzaro would move into the rotation, replacing one of the struggling starters?
“Not today,” Yost said. “I’ve got to get through today. Once we get through today, We’ll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.”
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MLB Team Report – Kansas City Royals – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Greg Holland gave up an unearned run in one inning Tuesday during a rehab appearance for Class AA Northwest Arkansas. He yielded one hit while throwing 14 strikes in 19 pitches. The run scored on a passed ball. Holland, on the disabled list due to a left rib stress reaction, is scheduled to pitch another inning Thursday for Northwest Arkansas. If he has no setbacks, he could rejoin the Royals this weekend.
–DH Billy Butler’s three-run homer in the eighth inning was his first at Kauffman Stadium this season. His other five came on the road. The Royals are 4-1 when he homers. His six home runs and 23 RBI top the team.
–LHP Danny Duffy again got his pitch count up early — 53 pitches in the first two innings — and was pulled after 4 1/3 innings and 102 pitches. He walked five and gave up seven hits, allowing four runs, three earned. He entered the game averaging 10.32 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranked second in the American League, but he struck out only one Boston batter.
–LHP Tommy Hottovy, a Kansas City native, was optioned to Class AAA Omaha. Hottovy had a 3.38 ERA in five relief appearances, allowing two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
–RHP Vin Mazzaro was recalled from Class AAA Omaha, where he was 1-0 with a 4.37 ERA in six starts. Mazzaro, who had allowed only two earned runs and eight hits in 13 innings in his past two starts, joins the Kansas City bullpen as a long reliever. The Royals were already carrying two long men, RHPs Nate Adcock and Luis Mendoza, they were needed Sunday and Monday when starting pitchers got knocked out early.
–OF Wil Myers hit his 11th home run Tuesday for Class AA Northwest Arkansas in his 29th game. He hit eight in 99 games last season with the Naturals. Myers has a 15-game hitting streak that has boosted his average to .339. Myers, who is considered the Royals’ best hitting prospect, leads the Texas League in batting average, slugging percentage (.722) and OPS (1.115) and is tied for first in home runs.
BY THE NUMBERS: 44 — Consecutive games in which the Royals had a double, a streak that ended Tuesday night when they had six singles and a home run.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “(Tommy) Hottovy did a nice job here, but it was a luxury, three left-handers (in the bullpen). We needed some length.” — Manager Ned Yost, on optioning Hottovy, a lefty, to Class AAA Omaha to add RHP Vin Mazzaro as a long reliever.
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MLB Team Report – Kansas City Royals – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Greg Holland (left rib stress reaction) went on the 15-day disabled list April 21. He threw a bullpen session May 2 and batting practice May 5. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Northwest Arkansas on May 8, and he could be activated during the weekend of May 11-13.
–INF Yuniesky Betancourt (high right ankle sprain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 2. There was no timetable for his return.
–RHP Blake Wood (elbow bruise) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.
–CF Lorenzo Cain (left groin strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Northwest Arkansas on April 22, but he sustained a strained left hip flexor April 24. He will likely be out until at least late May.
–C Salvador Perez (left knee surgery in March 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 20. He is expected to be out until June.
–C Manny Pina (right knee surgery in February 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 20. He is expected to be out until at least June.
–RHP Joakim Soria (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 3. He will miss the season.
ROTATION:
LHP Bruce Chen
RHP Luke Hochevar
LHP Jonathan Sanchez
RHP Felipe Paulino
LHP Danny Duffy
BULLPEN:
RHP Luis Mendoza
RHP Jonathan Broxton
RHP Aaron Crow
LHP Jose Mijares
RHP Kelvin Herrera
LHP Tim Collins
RHP Nate Adcock
RHP Vin Mazzaro
CATCHERS:
Humberto Quintero
Brayan Pena
INFIELDERS:
1B Eric Hosmer
2B Chris Getz
SS Alcides Escobar
3B Mike Moustakas
INF Billy Butler
INF Irving Falu
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Alex Gordon
CF Jarrod Dyson
RF Jeff Francoeur
OF Mitch Maier
