Fittingly, MU alum Aaron Crow slams the door on the Indians on Mizzou Night

With a depleted bullpen after Thursday’s 14-inning marathon, the pressure was on Aaron Crow to close out Friday’s 6-4 victory in the ninth.

The Missouri alum delivered with his second save of the season and fifth of his career to cap off Mizzou Night with a pop out and two ground outs.

“I’ll take them anytime I can get them, because there aren’t too many out there with Greg (Holland) being as good as he is,” Crow said. “It was fun to be out there and get the job done.”

Starter Yordano Ventura worked around four runs — three earned — and took the Royals into the seventh inning. From there, Francisley Bueno, Jason Frasor, Kelvin Herrera and Crow combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings to protect the lead. Herrera was awarded the win.

“We knew when the late innings came around that we would be expected to do more than usual,” Crow said. “I think we all came in with our best stuff tonight and knew going out that was going to be it. I’m glad it worked out.”

Mizzou Night

Although Missouri offensive lineman Evan Boehm had not played catch in close to five years, he had no trouble throwing the first pitch to fellow Tiger Crow on Friday’s Mizzou Night.

The Lee’s Summit native navigated his fastball through a tunnel of cheerleaders and dance team members straight to Crow who easily caught it while wearing a Missouri baseball jersey.

“It was nerve-wracking when I found out about it a couple weeks ago,” Boehm said. “There were a lot of people out there, but once I stepped on the mound it was a lot of fun.”

Boehm even walked away with a signature from Crow on the ball he had thrown.

“I respect a man that can go and live the dream coming through Mizzou,” Boehm said. “Hopefully one day I can be out there on the football field living my dream, too.”

Duffy goes all Zusi

About four hours before the first pitch, Royals pitcher Danny Duffy was booting a soccer ball around Kauffman Stadium’s immaculately manicured outfield. The ball had a Sporting KC logo and Duffy was wearing a Zusi No. 8 Sporting shirt.

Duffy said he’d never met the Sporting midfielder who played for the U.S. team at the World Cup. He bought the shirt and ball at a local Rally House, and tested his leg strength on a steamy afternoon.

“Just went out there to see how far I could kick one,” Duffy said. “Couldn’t kick it very far. Didn’t want to throw my back out.”

KC infirmary

Eric Hosmer was not expected to return until Sunday, but he made an appearance Friday when he subbed in for Raul Ibanez in the ninth inning.

Hosmer, who has been recovering from a right wrist bruise since being hit by a pitch last Sunday, fielded two groundouts.

Left-hander Jason Vargas, who is recovering from an appendectomy on July 9, will throw three 15-pitch innings in batting practice on Saturday.

Vargas is 8-4 this season with a 3.31 ERA through 19 starts. manager Ned Yost said the team has not decided yet whether he will make any rehabilitation starts before returning to the rotation.

This story was originally published July 25, 2014 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Fittingly, MU alum Aaron Crow slams the door on the Indians on Mizzou Night."