Kansas City Royals’ offense struggled in Wednesday’s loss. This pitch was the culprit
The Kansas City Royals jumped on Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez ... back on May 23.
Although the right-hander struck out nine, the Royals strung together five total hits in the fourth and fifth innings and scored four runs. Rodriguez’s day was done after the fifth and the Royals won 4-1.
But the Royals couldn’t replicate that success against Rodriguez during at 3-2 loss Wednesday. The Tigers’ starter went seven innings and only gave up four hits and two runs.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Rodriguez was in control for most of the contest.
“He located, threw a lot of fastballs, and then later in the outing went to the changeup a little bit more,” Quatraro said. “We put together a nice inning there to take the lead, but other than that he kept us off-balance.”
The Royals struggled most against Rodriguez during his first time through the lineup: He struck out five of the first nine batters he faced. MJ Melendez struck out on a slider and the other four at-bats ended on low-90s heaters.
Rodriguez finished with seven strikeouts.
Quatraro attributed Rodriguez’s effectiveness against the Royals to his longevity and ability to “pitch where he needed to.” This included his changeup and cutter, though Quatraro maintained the fastball was the main story.
“It looked like we were a little bit more behind his fastball tonight than the last time he pitched,” Quatraro said. “He pitched more effectively with his fastball today. I’d have to look back for sure, but I think he threw some more off-speed the last time.”
The Royals didn’t pick up their first hit until the fifth inning. Making adjustments the second time around, first baseman Matt Duffy hit a line-drive single into center. Second baseman Michael Massey and center fielder Kyle Isbel then hit back-to-back doubles as the Royals pushed across two runs in the fifth.
As the game progressed, Rodriguez incorporated his changeup, sinker and slider more, and the Royals found some success against those pitches. Duffy and Massey’s hits came against Rodriguez’s sinker.
“His fastball was kind of playing I think above what the velocity was,” Massey said. “Just maybe being ready, you know, trying to stay up in the zone a little bit and kind of laying off his slider.”
Massey, one of five KC batters who faced Rodriguez both in May and on Wednesday, said the Detroit veteran’s fastball seemed to have more “jump” this time.
“I’m sure he looked at reports and what we did to him last time, so ... it kind of goes both ways,” Massey said. “He came out on top tonight and had some good pitches.”
This story was originally published July 20, 2023 at 9:39 AM.
