Royals Report: Ned Yost's Blunder Lets Indians Walk Off With 2-1 Win
Royals manager Ned Yost threw away yet another game by inserting Joakim Soria into a tied game with runners on first and second in the ninth inning. Of course, Cleveland walked off with a 2-1 win.
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The Kansas City Royals fell to 77-74 with their 2-1 walk-off loss Tuesday night. KC remain 5.0 games behind Baltimore for the AL’s second wild card.
All I can say is, “Why, Ned, why?”
For some reason, Kansas City manager Ned Yost inserted Joakim Soria in a 1-1 game in the ninth inning with men on first and second with one out. Cleveland wins the game if a run scores. And Yost decided its the PERFECT PLACE FOR YOUR PITCHER THAT HAS BLOWN 12 LATE INNING LEADS IN 2016.
Oh, yeah. That’s about as smart as handing a nuclear bomb to Osama Bin Laden and telling him which button to push.
As if gifting the Royals with a miracle, the Baseball Gods allowed Rajai Davis‘ ground smash to bounce of Joakim Soria’s leg in range for him to record the out at first base. Yost wasted this reprieve from his own stupidity by letting Soria pitch to Brandon Guyer—who inevitably slammed the ball into the right field corner for the win.
Gee, Ned. Maybe you should have used Wade Davis in a jam that could lose you the game if you wanted a right hander. Live to survive for another inning. Oh, no. You had to prove to EVERYONE that Joakim Soria could succeed in a critical game.
Genius!
Edinson Volquez Pitches Great Game
Yost squandered an unexpectedly good start from Edinson Volquez. Steady Eddie pitched his best game in more than a month, lasting 6.2 innings while allowing 4 hits, 3 walks, and 1 earned run with 5 strikeouts. Cleveland’s only score against Volquez came on Carlos Santana‘s solo home run in the third.
Volquez left the game with score tied in the seventh inning. Matt Strahm came on to record the final out of the frame.
The Royals evened up the score in the fifth inning on Alex Gordon‘s single to left to plate Salvador Perez from second base. Third base coach Mike Jirschele might have held Perez at third had Indians left fielder Abraham Almonte not muffed the ball.
In the end, none of that matter due to Ned Yost’s stubborn decision to use Joakim Soria. I’d almost use ANYONE ELSE WHO CAN THROW A BALL than go with a guy caught in a clear funk.
I can almost hear the post-game excuses now: I don’t have enough arms to not use Soria. The situation screamed for a right-hander. He hit a good pitch. Frankly, I’m sick of it. Use Kevin McCarthy. Use Chris Young. Freak’n send Dave Eiland out to pitch, BUT DON’T USE SORIA WHEN HE’S BEEN CAUGHT IN THE WORST RUT OF HIS CAREER!
Einstien was talking about YOU Ned Yost when he defined insanity. And it’s the decision-making that has sunk the Kansas City Royals in 2016.
But, hey, Ned believes in his guys.
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