Andrew Benintendi, Whit Merrifield spark offensive explosion in Kansas City Royals’ win
None of the runs will carry over to the regular season, but that didn’t stop the Kansas City Royals from stacking them up in bunches in a 19-9 Cactus League win Monday against AL Central rival Cleveland.
The Royals clobbered Guardians pitching for 19 runs and four home runs, including a grand slam, in the first four innings. The onslaught featured a lead-off homer by Whit Merrifield, homers in back-to-back plate appearances for Andrew Benintendi and an Edward Olivares grand slam in front of an announced 2,868 at Surprise Stadium.
“It’s just one of those days where everything seemed to go right,” Merrifield said. “Found some barrels. Found some holes. More of those days would be nice, but these don’t come around too often. So when they do, you try to take advantage.”
The first four batters of the game for the Royals reached and scored before the first out of the inning.
Merrifield started the offensive onslaught with a solo home run to left-center field, his first of the spring. Then following back-to-back walks by Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, Benintendi blasted a three-run homer to center field.
“In my at-bats a few games ago — pretty much every game — I feel like I’ve rolled over a few to second base,” Benintendi said. “More so I’ve just been hitting the ball on the ground, which is not what I’m trying to do. So it was nice to hit a line drive and see it go a little bit.”
Adalberto Mondesi also smoked an RBI triple in the inning. When the dust settled on the first, the Royals had scored seven runs on five hits and both Merrifield and Witt had come to the plate twice as the Royals sent 11 players to the plate in the first.
Center fielder Michael A. Taylor walked and scored in the first inning. He came out of the game after the inning as a precaution because of hip tightness. Olivares stepped in for him in the second inning and hit a double in his first at-bat.
Benintendi’s second homer, a blast to left field, came in the second inning right after Perez missed a solo homer of his own by inches.
Perez’s line drive hit the top of the wall and came back onto the field of play. It was hit so hard that Perez only had time to get a single out of it. Perez had a similar blast on a double later in the game that hit a few inches from clearing the fence.
Olivares’ grand slam came in the third inning after singles by Carlos Santana, Hunter Dozier and a walk by Mondesi.
Asked what he liked most about what he saw from his offense early, Royals manager Mike Matheny said, “Hard contact, really through about four sets of at-bats for our lineup. They did a great job of bringing him to the middle of the plate, getting pitches they could work with.
“We’ve been talking about trying to get counts in our favor, and they did that. They had swings for damage. All the way across the board, one through nine, everybody looked really good. We even bring in Olie and he jumps right in from the top too. It was a great day. Unfortunately, ground rules got Salvy a couple time or we could throw a couple more home runs in that box score.”
Greinke goes a little deeper
Royals pitcher Zack Greinke, who joined camp a little less than two weeks ago after having signed as a free agent, made his second start of spring training on Monday. He allowed three earned runs on six hits, including one home run, and one walk in 3 2/3 innings.
He’d pitched three innings in his previous start against the Colorado Rockies on March 23.
The Royals have not yet publicly announced an Opening Day starting pitcher, though it could come soon, and Greinke currently lines up to be on regular rest for the opener on April 7.
With the offense on a tear, Greinke had unexpectedly prolonged periods of time between innings.
“For just your pitching standpoint, it’s not ideal, but it’s probably good to get used to it,” Greinke said. “It makes it a little more difficult. It’s not the best circumstances, but it’s fine.”
Greinke didn’t give up a run until the third inning, when he gave up a one-out solo homer to Amed Rosario. In the second, he gave up a run on a one-out walk, a double and a sacrifice fly. He left with two outs and a runner on. That runner scored on a triple given up by reliever Amir Garrett.
Greinke said he thought his fastball command got a little sloppy in the later innings, but he felt good with the progress he’s made.
“The endurance is pretty good for two starts in,” Greinke said. “All the pitches have been sharp at times. Probably, [spring training] is a little bit short, but I feel pretty good for two starts in.”
Roster moves
With seven exhibition games remaining, the Royals made several roster moves following Monday’s game.
The optioned pitcher Ronald Bolaños, catcher MJ Melendez and first baseman Nick Pratto to Triple-A Omaha. They also optioned infielder Maikel Garcia to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Meanwhile, the club announced catcher Kale Emshoff, pitchers Austin Cox, Foster Griffin and Jace Vines had been reassigned to minor-league camp.
Up next
The Royals list right-hander Brad Keller, left-hander Daniel Lynch and right-handed relievers Arodys Vizcaino and Jose Cuas as pitching probables for Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 8:28 PM.
