Yordano Ventura doesn’t show his hand in Royals’ 11-9 victory over Indians

Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura hardly resembled the pitcher who looked so dominant in winning game six of the 2014 World Series.

The Cleveland Indians batted around in the bottom of the first against Ventura on Friday, scoring four runs on four hits in the Royals’ 11-9 win against the Indians at Goodyear Stadium.

But after all, it was an exhibition game, and Ventura kept his devastating curveball on the shelf during a 34-pitch outing.

“I threw fastballs and changeups and just one curveball,” Ventura said. “My arm is ready. I threw a little too quick and too straight.”

Four of the first five Cleveland batters reached base, including Zach Walters golfing a two-run double to right. Ventura walked two, struck out one and allowed four hits in one inning.

“That’s the first time on the mound since the World Series,” said Ventura, who threw seven shutout innings in the Royals’ 10-0 win over San Francisco in game six of the World Series. “I’ll make more adjustments the next time.”

Royals manager Ned Yost had no concerns about Ventura’s inning.

“Just like we talk about hitters getting their timing, well, pitchers are doing the same thing,” said Yost, whose team is now 3-0 in the Cactus League. “They’re getting their rhythm, getting their timing in their delivery.

“He was a little strong, maybe over-throwing it a little bit. … We were trying to stay away from the cutter today. But he fell behind with the fastballs and was trying to get back ahead with fastballs.”

Other observations from Friday’s game:

▪ The Royals sent 13 men to the plate in an eight-run fifth in which Cleveland was charged with one error but lost one ball in the sun and let a pop fly drop between two fielders.

▪ The highlight of the inning was a towering three-run homer to left by outfielder Brett Eibner, the designated hitter on Friday, which broke a 5-5 tie. It was his second home run in two days.

▪ Left fielder Alex Rios resumed his hot hitting. Rios homered and doubled to left in his first two at-bats, two days after hitting a home run and doubling in the exhibition opener.

▪ In his second at-bat, Mike Moustakas grounded out into the heart of the shift put on by the Indians, who had three infielders on the right side. But the next time up, Moustakas hit a flare into left for a single.

▪ Bubba Starling made two plate appearances and struck out each time, giving him five straight whiffs in two days.

This story was originally published March 6, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Yordano Ventura doesn’t show his hand in Royals’ 11-9 victory over Indians."