Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough outdueled by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen
The Kansas City Royals had a promising start to Wednesday afternoon’s game at Chase Field in Phoenix, getting two first-inning hits against Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen.
They had a golden opportunity to score at least one run, too, with runners on first and third and just one away. Instead, Gallen escaped the jam and the Royals left two stranded — Vinnie Pasquantino on third and MJ Melendez on first.
“When you get them (opportunities), you’ve got to take advantage,” Pasquantino said. “Because if you don’t, you see what happens.
“You’ve really got to take advantage because the hope is that it can snowball and you score one and you chip another one in there. It’s just tough.”
Gallen limited the Royals (6-19) to two hits over the next five-plus innings as the Diamondbacks won 2-0 and collected the series victory.
Gallen exited after 6 1/3 innings having struck out 12. He threw 97 pitches, 62 for strikes, and didn’t walk a batter. The Royals totaled five hits and stranded seven.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro didn’t hold back on praising Gallen’s pitching.
“He’s got four or five pitches ... he locates the heck out of them,” Quatraro said. “He pitches right on the edge of the zone. He expands when he needs to or wants to. He can double up, triple up. He can use both sides of the plate. So he presents a lot of challenges for any team.”
Coming in with an 0-2 record and 7.62 ERA, Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough held his own for much of the afternoon. He pitched the first four innings, allowing just one earned run and scattering four hits.
Yarbrough’s seen a difference in himself in his last two outings. He’s allowed three earned runs in eight innings.
“I think just being able to get in rhythm, get some consistency (and) kind of get an understanding of what I’m trying to do,” he said. “I’m able to get some work in between.
“As a starter, you’re able to work on stuff in-between. Instead of being in the bullpen, kind of making sure you’re ready to go and available. Really just try to take that time to fine-tune some things and that’s been the big difference.”
In the end, Arizona capitalized on its opportunities Wednesday and the Royals did not. The Diamondbacks scored one run off Yarbrough in the fourth and the other in the fifth against reliever Amir Garret.
Missed the start of the series?
Game 1: Royals leave 10 on base in 1-run loss to Arizona
Game 2: Brady Singer made his best start of 2023 in a Royals victory.
Late rally falls short
The Royals showed signs of life in the ninth. First, Melendez walked. Then Edward Olivares reached on an error by Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed.
The pressure was on Arizona closer Andrew Chafin to get three outs. He did: two flyouts and a strikeout of Fermin.
Fermin shows off his arm
Arizona’s Corbin Carroll tried to steal second in the bottom of the second inning.
Instead, Royals catcher Fermin gunned down Carroll with a one-hop throw to Massey.
Salvy enjoys a day of rest
Royals catcher Salvador Perez had a rare day off Wednesday. Quatraro said Perez is nursing various knicks and bruises.
“The timing of him getting beat up or whatever you want to say is advantageous for that,” Quatraro said before the game. “He doesn’t like to sit any day, but this was a somewhat planned day off for him.”
Up next
The Royals travel to Minnesota to face the Twins in a four-game series. Game 1 is Thursday at 6:40 p.m.
This story was originally published April 26, 2023 at 5:38 PM.
