Royals blast Mariners as Duffy makes solid return to rotation
The last time Danny Duffy pitched for the Royals 39 days ago, he left after just five innings, his spot in the rotation questioned and his ERA nearing 6.00.
Duffy returned for Kansas City's 8-2 win over Seattle on Wednesday night, lasting 4 2/3 innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on eight hits. He walked none and struck out four. It was Duffy's first start since a stint on the disabled list, after fighting through left biceps tendinitis and shoulder stiffness.
Duffy battled a high pitch count Wednesday night, needing 88 pitches to record 14 outs. The first inning required 24 pitches. He allowed a baserunner in each of the five innings he started but danced around trouble. Duffy stranded four runners in the first three innings and used an inning-ending double play to escape the fourth.
It was just the third time this season Duffy did not walk a batter. One was his first start of the season. The other was a one-inning stinker when he gave up four runs on six hits.
Duffy's velocity appeared to be up Wednesday night, pumping his fastball in the mid- to upper-90s early on. According to FanGraphs, Duffy's fastest pitch this season was 97.8 mph. He threw six fastballs in the first inning at 97 mph.
Kansas City's win maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the American League Central. The Royals have Thursday off before heading to Oakland for a three-game series.
3 UP
• Big fourth inning. Kansas City scored seven runs in the fourth inning, the most runs it has scored in a single inning this season. The Royals sent 11 batters to the plate, six picking up hits while left fielder Alex Gordon walked and right fielder Alex Rios was hit by a pitch. Shortstop Alcides Escobar stroked two hits in the inning.
Prior to the fourth inning, Kansas City did not have a baserunner against Seattle starter Roenis Elias. Nine batters faced him in the first three innings. Nine batters faced him in the fourth before he was yanked mid-inning.
• Madson picks up win. Because Duffy failed to complete five innings, he was not eligible for the win. Instead, reliever Ryan Madson picked up his first win since Sept. 7, 2011, or 1,386 days ago. Madson has appeared in 29 games for Kansas City and owns a 1.82 ERA.
• Infante stays hot. Second baseman Omar Infante went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, extending his stretch of hot hitting. In his last 10 games, Infante is slashing .395/.395/.500. His average has risen from .204 to .236.
3 DOWN
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• Cain's hamstring. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain did not play Wednesday night, resting a tweaked hamstring suffered during Tuesday night's loss to Seattle. Cain took a normal day of rest Monday night and will enjoy an off day Thursday.
• Escobar's error. Escobar committed a fifth-inning error that cost Kansas City a run. Nelson Cruz smoked a ball directly to Escobar at short, but the ball bounced off his waist and allowed Austin Jackson to score from third. It was Escobar's seventh error of the season.
• Michael Mariot. In order to activate Duffy from the disabled list, the Royals optioned right-hander Michael Mariot to Triple A Omaha. He threw 31 pitches in two innings Tuesday night.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
