Late-game heroics by Dozier, Benintendi give Kansas City Royals a third straight win
Houston Astros leadoff man Jose Altuve, who has been booed mercilessly all series by Kansas City fans, reached down for a pitch low and away and swatted a single into left field that had the potential to tie the game and take the air out of the ballpark with two outs in the ninth inning.
Royals left fielder Andrew Benintendi charged the ball while running to his right. The left-handed Benintendi gathered the ball off one hop and within the matter of two steps fired a throw to the plate on a hop to catcher Salvador Perez.
Chas McCormick, who’d been on second base, made the turn around third base and sprinted for home, but Benintendi’s throw and Perez’s tag were executed within a split second of McCormick touching the plate.
Home plate umpire Rob Drake ruled McCormick out on the field and replay review didn’t reverse the call. Benintendi’s outfield assist ended the game and gave the Royals a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros in front of an announced 12, 278 at Kauffman Stadium Wednesday night.
“I figured the only way I was going to throw him out was if I caught it on the first hop,” Benintendi said. “I tried to get there as quick as a could. I got it on a hop and threw one of the few good throws I’ve thrown home this year, and thankfully it got him.”
The Royals have now won three games in a row for the first time since a season-high six-game win streak from July 20-26.
“I’m just still hoping they don’t change their mind,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said with a laugh. “I don’t know. Does it get any more exciting than that with us ending up smiling at the end? What an incredible throw by Benny. Great tag. Just another good, well-fought win.”
The win clinched the series for the Royals (52-67) and put them in position to sweep the four-game set on Thursday afternoon.
Benintendi’s pivotal throw came a little more than two weeks after he left a game in Chicago in the fourth inning with a left shoulder injury after a slide into second base. Initial fears were that he’d jarred the shoulder out of place, but he was able to return to the lineup within a week.
In his first season with the Royals following a trade from the Boston Red Sox, Benintendi has made the adjustment to Kauffman Stadium after having played left field in the most unique ballpark in the majors, Fenway Park, which features a 37-foot, 2-inch tall wall or “green monster” in left field that stretches 231 feet across.
“It’s just realizing how far out I am, the depth and knowing when to take a chance to throw someone out and when not to,” Benintendi said of playing in Kauffman. “Because you’ve got a second base and someone hits you a ground ball, most likely you’re not going to be able to throw them out because you’re so far out there and it slows down on the grass.
“It’s definitely a complete 180 from Fenway, but it’s nice to go out there and run around and make some catches.”
In KC, Benintendi took over for an eight-time Gold Glove winner and two-time Platinum Glove recipient in former left fielder Alex Gordon.
“He’s been playing good defense for us,” Matheny said. “It was a big adjustment, how much he had to go back. Then right there, how hard he had to come in, how much ground he had to cover. …
“Gordo spoiled everybody with how easy he made it look with the way he charged and threw. But that was very Gordo-esque. That’s probably the best throw we’ve seen him make, and that arm has been a little touch-and-go for a while because that’s the one that he hurt.”
Infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier continued to show flashes of the hitter the Royals expected him to be this season. He flashed at just the right time with his 10th home run of the season in the seventh inning.
Dozier’s two-run blast covered and estimated 425 feet and turned a one-run deficit into a one-run lead. Benintendi doubled to set up Dozier’s game-changing homer.
“I was just trying to see him out over and drive something hard in the gap,” Dozier said. “Definitely when Benny got to second after his double, my focus was trying to get him to third, just hit something hard in the gap or something, and I just adjusted on that slider pretty well.”
Nicky Lopez went 3 for 4 with a run scored and two stolen bases.
Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. The two runs he allowed both came with two outs in the seventh inning. The game marked the fifth time in 21 starts this season that Singer pitched past the sixth inning.
Singer’s last start, his first since coming off the IL (shoulder fatigue), didn’t foster much in the way of positive vibes. He allowed five runs on 10 hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings in a loss at home to the New York Yankees.
“I think mostly command (was the difference), the sharpness of all pitches,” Singer said. “I think the huge thing was that glove-side. I’m not totally sure I got one there to the Yankees. I feel like I do good with that to lefties and, obviously, getting it away from righties. When I have both of them going, I’m usually set-up for pretty good success.”
Royals relievers Domingo Tapia (1/3 innings), Josh Staumont (one inning) and Scott Barlow (one inning) shut down the Astros after Singer gave up two in the top of the seventh.
Tapia earned his first career win.
Barlow gave up three singles in the ninth inning, but Benintendi’s throw kept him from giving up any runs.
This story was originally published August 18, 2021 at 10:08 PM.
