Kansas City Royals’ Brady Singer battles command in first inning of spring loss to Dodgers
Kansas City Royals right-hander Brady Singer’s second spring training start had a decidedly Jekyll and Hyde feel to it. The outing featured a rocky start followed by a period of smooth sailing.
Singer — who is poised for his third year in the majors — gave up three runs after the first three batters of the game in the Royals’ 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of an announced sellout crowd of 10,639 at Surprise Stadium on Saturday night.
Singer walked the first two batters of the game, Dodgers everyday regulars Chris Taylor and Max Muncy. Then slugger Justin Turner made Singer pay for those walks when Turner belted a three-run home run to center field.
Singer looked like a different pitcher in the second inning as he filled up the strike zone and retired the side in order, including strikeouts of the final two batters.
“Obviously, the second inning he was timed up. First one, still off,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said of Singer. “I think he was just trying to feel for it a little bit and got a little sideways. [Pitching coach Cal Eldred] had a really good visit. It was amazing after that how it just kind of clicked and he started carrying his mechanics down the mound instead of falling off the first-base side.”
Including the first batter in the third inning, Taylor’s second at-bat, Singer registered three consecutive strikeouts. After the home run in the first inning, he retired seven in a row.
“I think it was the tempo,” Singer said of the difference. “I mean I’ve been battling a little bit of mechanical stuff, but I think the tempo of the windup and going through the stretch a little bit quicker was working for me a lot better. I’ve been kind of slowing it down for some reason. It just worked better [when I was] more up-tempo.”
Singer walked two more batters with one out in the third inning before handing it over to reliever Jose Cuas, who got two quick outs to strand the runners.
Singer allowed three runs on one hit and four walks in 2 1/3 innings. He also struck out four.
“The slider has been feeling great,” Singer said. “I’ve definitely been having that. The change-up felt really good tonight. I threw a lot of good ones almost exactly where I wanted to. So the command with that is great. I’m still trying to take the speed off, and I got some with a little lower velocity out there, so that was good.”
Royals left-hander Kris Bubic tossed two perfect innings. He didn’t allow a baserunner and struck out one in his first appearance in a game this spring.
“I liked everything he was doing,” Matheny said of Bubic. “He had a good rhythm. The ball was coming out good. Change-up was exceptional. Both breaking balls, I like that he’s using the shorter one now and the big one looks right.”
The Royals’ Whit Merrifield (2 for 3, triple, run scored) and Hunter Dozier (2 for 3) had two hits apiece. Carlos Santana and Vinnie Pasquantino both smacked doubles.
Hanser’s return
Infielder Hanser Alberto, who spent last season with the Royals, started at shortstop for the Dodgers on Saturday night.
Alberto, who signed a minor-league free-agent deal with the Royals prior to last season, slashed .270/.291/.402 with 20 doubles and played in 103 games. He played third base, second base and shortstop at times last season. He even made one pitching appearance for 1/3 inning against the Tampa Bay Rays.
On March 23, the Dodgers signed Alberto to a one-year contract for $1.6 million with a club option for the 2023 season for $2 million with a $250,000 buyout.
Heasley and Zerpa up next
The Royals list Jonathan Heasley, Angel Zerpa, Scott Barlow and Jake Brentz as pitching probables for Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.
Heasley and Zerpa both started games in the majors for the Royals late last season. Barlow and Brentz were two of the mainstays in the bullpen. Brentz made a team-high 72 appearances last season, while Barlow pitched in 71 games.
Barlow earned the team’s Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year award as voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the BBWAA. He led Royals relievers in innings (74 1/3), ERA (2.42), strikeouts (91), saves (16), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (11.02), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.25) and tied Brentz for the team lead in wins among relievers (five).
This story was originally published March 27, 2022 at 12:16 AM.
