Strahm gives away another, Royals swept out of Baltimore

The Royals went to the bottom of the 6th inning, tied 2-2, despite many missed opportunities. Matt Strahm proceeded to blow another game for the Royals, allowing 5 runs in a third of an inning. The Royals would lose the game 8-2 and be swept in Baltimore heading into the All-Star Break.

The Royals got on the board first, with two outs in the second, Josh Rojas reached via an error and scored on Isaac Collins triple down the right field line.

That lead didn’t last long as Seth Lugo immediately allowed a two-run homer to Leody Taveras in the bottom half of the inning.

However, Bobby Witt Jr. led off the 3rd inning with a double to right, went to third on a Jac Caglianone ground out and scored on Lane Thomas’s RBI single.

Lugo labored to get through 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks and striking out 6. All and all not a bad start for Lugo, inefficacy really held him back today.

Steven Cruz worked the 5th inning, hitting the first batter, getting a flyout to right and an inning ending double play ball. All on 6 pitches, but despite 4 days off coming up, he couldn’t work a second inning.

Instead, manager Matt Quatraro opted to use Matt Strahm, who lost them the game on Friday. Things went about as expected. He struck out the first batter but then walked a batter. Caglianone lost a pop up in the sun, making it first and second, with one out. An RBI single, ground-rule double, balk, infield single all followed, accounting for 4 runs. Even if Caglianone doesn’t lose the ball in the sun, Strahm still never got another out in the inning.

John Schreiber came in to finish the inning, allowing an inherited run to score. Strahm’s final line for today: 0.1 inning, 4 hits, 5 runs. Season ERA up to 7.18 in 31.1 innings. Awesome.

Lucas Erceg came in for the 7th and gave up a first batter homer. Then he hit the next guy, and the benches cleared, for no real reason. Beck Way threw a scoreless 8th.

The Royals offense didn’t do anything the rest of the game, to no real surprise. They are 38-59 at the All-Star Break, that is tied for worst record in baseball. They are 3-19 versus the AL East this season.

They are now 7-42 this season when scoring three runs or less. (FWIW, 31-17 when scoring 4 runs or more). In 50.5% of their games the Royals have scored 3 runs or less! No changes needed around here!

Ok, I’m done being irritated irrationally by the worst team in baseball. The Royals don’t play again until Friday at home against the Padres. Let’s enjoy Cags in the derby tomorrow, Jr. and Michael Wacha in the All-Star Game and enjoy the break from watching Royals games together.