Yordano Spins a Gem, But No Offense in 2-1 Loss

Yordano Ventura showed no signs of the league catching up to him as he was brilliant over 6 1/3 innings of work, striking out nine hitters, including six consecutive hitters at one point. But his offense gave him the "James Shields Treatment", giving up almost no run support, and Ventura's one mistake of the game - a two-run home run to Nelson Cruz - would cost him the game.

The Royals certainly made contact against Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen. The Royals struck out just one time against the southpaw, but managed just six singles and a Danny Valencia double. The Royals plated their only run in the fourth, when a singles parade by Eric Hosmer, Salavador Perez, and Alex Gordon loaded the bases. Danny Valencia set a fly ball very deep to left field where it was caught by the man he was traded for - David Lough. That scored Hosmer, but would also cause a scary moment when Salvador Perez ran his head into the knee of Orioles third baseman Manny Machado as he took third base. Perez would stay in the game, but appeared motionless for a bit. Ned Yost indicated afterwards it was a neck injury, not a head injury. With runners on the corners and a chance to take the lead, Johnny Giavotella would then pop out to end the threat.

The Royals would threaten again in the sixth. With one out, Salvador Perez walked and Alex Gordon singled, knocking Chen out of the game in favor of right-handed specialist Darren O'Day. He struck out Valencia and induced a fly out by Giavotella to end the inning with the lead safely intact.

But back to Ventura, he was simply fantastic. He walked just one hitter and gave up just seven hits, and was well under 100 pitches heading into the seventh. His only mistake was a pretty good pitch that Nelson Cruz went to right-center with, a fly ball that got up into the jet stream and just carried over the wall. But he should probably get used to this kind of run support, because when the singles train stops, no one gets to Winsville.