Royals-Diamondbacks Series Recap: Well…That Was Fun

Aug 8, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Mark Trumbo (15) hits a single during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The one thing you need to know about the result of this series is these are two teams trending in different directions. The Royals are a hot team. Coming into the series with the Dbacks despite struggling to find any offense, this team had won 9 of 12 and their starting pitching from top to bottom was dominant. Their bullpen is one of best in baseball, and according to Fan Graphs defensive metrics ratings, they are the best defensive team in baseball.

The only thing they needed to get going was the offense and they did that against Arizona. Meanwhile the Dbacks thanks to a rash of injuries, the latest being Paul Goldschmidt who is out for the year with a fractured hand have never been able to get going, and frankly this is just a lost season. So you probably aren’t surprised with the end result. The Royals swept the Snakes and they did it pretty easily.

Game 1: Royals-12 Diamodbacks-2

The Royals pounded the Snakes in the series opener, and once again the home run ball came back to bite Wade Miley. Miley served up two three run homers in 4.2 innings pitched, and left the game with the bases loaded, all of those runners were his responsibility.  He served up the home runs to the big bats Salvador Perez and Billy Butler. At that point it was still manageable. The big blow came when Bo Schultz came into the game with the bases juiced and served up a grand slam home run to a guy who normally doesn’t hit home runs in OF Nori Aoki. Miley allowed 10 earned runs and it was by far the worst start of his career. He was pitching really well coming in. He had a great July posting an era under 3. Royals starter Danny Duffy tossed 5 innings of one run ball.

Game 2: Royals-4 Diamodbacks-3

It was a little closer, but it still went the Royals way who stayed red hot and kept climbing up in the standings in the A.L Wild Card race and the A.L Central. Mike Moustakas hit a two run homer off Dbacks starter Josh Collmenter in the third, and then got him for a run scoring single in the fourth. He was initially called out trying to score in the 9th on a groundball, but video review showed he was safe with a head first dive to add an insurance run for KC. KC scored just enough for Royals starter Yordano Ventura who was once again lighting up the radar gun. He struck out eight allowing two runs. Collmenter pitched pretty well but Ventura was better. KC closer Greg Holland gave up one run before notching his 32nd save.

Game 3: Diamondbacks-2 Royals-6

Coming into this game, the Royals had extra motivation to sweep given that the Yankees just took 3 of 4 from the first place Tigers and they delivered. Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie had his five pitch arsenal working well and was very efficient pitching a complete game while allowing 2 runs.

Meanwhile Vidal Nuno just didn’t have it. He allowed five runs in 4 innings by far the worst outing in a Dback uniform and struggled with command. The real story of the game was Jake Lamb’s debut. He showed his defensive range snagging the first two balls go of the game right two him. Then in the third he collected his first hit and RBI to pull the Snakes to within two.

Even though it was a sweep, one positive thing that the Dbacks can take away from this series is that Mark Trumbo is swinging a hot bat. He has to be productive for the offense to have success.

Next the Dbacks continue the homestand with a series against the Rockies who are in last place in the N.L West.