Double plays -- one dazzler in particular -- lift Royals over Indians
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals checked once. They checked twice.
Two glances were required to return Michael Bourn to third base during the fifth inning of Wednesday's 4-2 Royals win over Cleveland. The first one came from pitcher Jason Vargas, who guided Bourn back before throwing to second base. The next one came from Omar Infante, whose stare forced Bourn back before he fired to first.
The pair of peeks froze the speedy Bourn 90 feet from home and helped complete the second double play of the night for Kansas City.
"The double plays were huge," manager Ned Yost said, "but the one was special."
Protecting a two-run lead in the fifth, Vargas allowed the first two Indians to reach, putting runners on the corners with no outs. The Indians were threatening. The heart of the Cleveland lineup was due up. Vargas had danced in and out of trouble in the game's first four innings. The spot was ripe for Cleveland to trim or take the lead.
But Mike Aviles sent a grounder back to Vargas on the mound, putting Bourn in a precarious situation. Most runners run on contact in that scenario, either hoping to score or get in a rundown long enough to duck a second out and advance the runners.
Vargas stymied Bourn at third instead with a swift glare. Infante did the same once he retired Jason Kipnis at second. When Aviles was out at first, Bourn eased back to third, nowhere closer to scoring after two outs had passed.
"To be able to hold a runner and turn a double play, very, very seldom do you see that," Yost said.
Vargas and Infante neutralized an Indians threat as Kansas City notched its second win in its last eight games. The Royals (30-20) are again tied for first place with Minnesota in the American League Central.
The nifty double play came two innings after an inning-ending one negated another Indians scoring chance. Cleveland had already scored one run in the third inning and was hoping to push across more with runners on first and second with one out. Kansas City turned a 6-4-3 double play to get Vargas out of the jam and control the damage.
"I think those were key points in the ballgame," Vargas said. "We don't turn those or make those plays happen, there's a chance for them to extend an inning. It's just what our defense is able to do."
Vargas handled the rest. He scattered eight hits across six innings while allowing two runs. It was his second start back since returning from the 15-day disabled list, the reins loosened to 86 pitches this time.
Yost said Vargas could have gone up to 90 or 95 pitches Wednesday, but the club opted to remove him after six solid innings. In his next start, Vargas should be a full go up to 110 pitches, Yost said.
The slumbering Royals offense limped into Wednesday's game averaging 2.14 runs in their previous seven games. Since May 24, they had the lowest batting average (.193), slugging percentage (.282) and OPS (.532). They led only the lowly Phillies in runs per game and on-base percentage (.250).
Wednesday's third inning offered change.
The Royals strung together five straight hits -- including three consecutive doubles from Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales -- to plate three runs off Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber.
"Slumps are funny," Yost said. "You can get into them and then, bam, just when you think you're never going to get another hit, you're out of it."
Kansas City wasted no time in the first inning, shortstop Alcides Escobar smacking the first pitch from Kluber for a leadoff double. Third baseman Mike Moustakas swatted the next pitch into right field for a run-scoring single. After two pitches, the Royals had matched the same output as five of their previous seven games.
After the third inning, Kluber handcuffed the Royals, allowing just two baserunners in the final five innings as he finished a complete game.
You can follow Matthew DeFranks on Twitter at @MDeFranks or email him at matthew.defranks@gmail.com.
