Moustakas is all smiles after two-run double helps Royals beat Cardinals
ST. LOUIS -- Of course, the question we all wanted answered by Mike Moustakas had nothing to do with his crucial two-run double in the seventh inning of the Royals' 6-0 win over the Cardinals on Monday.
What we had to know was how Moustakas evaluated Danny Duffy's performance on the mound. So I asked Moose: "Did Duffy indeed pitch a great game?"
Moustakas took the bait, broke into a big smile and confirmed that, yes, Duffy "pitched a great game," acknowledging the awkward exchange a few weeks ago when Moustakas answered every postgame inquiry with "Vargy (Jason Vargas) pitched a great game."
"I knew you guys would do that," Moose said with a laugh.
Moustakas again was in a good mood after drilling the two-run double to the opposite field off right-hander Shelby Miller. Those runs were big for a struggling offense and gave the Royals some needed breathing room (3-0) at the time.
It also was the first hit by Moustakas after he went 0 for 5 since returning from his demotion to the minors.
"I really just wanted to have a good at-bat," Moustakas said. "I was hoping to drive it somewhere. That's a really good pitcher for them. He had us shut down all night."
3 UP
-- Have a day, Danny. The worry, of course, was that there might have been something wrong with Danny Duffy's arm after his velocity dropped to the 89- to 91-mph range in his previous start. But Duffy bounced back and showed off that electric arm by popping a few fastballs in the 96-mph range early on. He backed off and maintained his fastball around 92-94 mph through six shutout innings. He allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out five. Outstanding efforty by Duffy when the Royals really needed him.
"I did kind of sneak a look at the radar," Duffy said. "But mainly it's just about getting guys out no matter what the radar gun says."
Manager Ned Yost couldn't have agreed more. "I told him tonight that he pitched a great game," Yost said. "I said pitched, not threw. He really pitched tonight."
Gordon now has 20 hits in his past 53 at-bats, and has four homers and 14 RBI in that span. Say it along with Rex Hudler: Alex is driving the bus.
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"Our offense hasn't been doing a whole lot lately," Gordon said. "But (hitting coach) Dale (Sveum) has been trying to get us to get our arms extended and start producing some more extra-base hits."
-- Don't forget about Sal. Big Sal Perez has been scuffling a bit lately but broke out with three hits, and one of them was an infield hit that he actually beat out. Perez takes some heat from some fans for what sometimes seems like a lack of hustle. But that's twice on this road trip that Perez has tore down the line to beat out a play. He was safe on Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes' error in the ninth last week that allowed the Royals to tie it. The Royals then won in extra innings. On Monday, Perez hit a grounder over second that was cut off by shortstop Jhonny Peralta -- but Peralta's throw was late to first, which startled just about everyone in the stadium. Good hustle from Perez.
3 DOWN
-- Bad at-bat No. 1. The Royals, Yost and Svuem obviously preach situational hitting. It just doesn't seem to sink in. Lorenzo Cain, who, granted, has been red-hot lately, came up in the seventh with Perez on second and none out. The Royals were leading 1-0 but, as you know, can always use more runs. But Cain could not advance Perez to third and instead pulled the ball. Luckily, Cain beat out a slow dribbler to third. Even more luckily, a wild pitch moved both runners up for Moustakas' two-run double.
And yes, we will give a situational salute to Cain for his solid at-bat in the eighth. With Perez on third and one out, Cain waited for his pitch, got a high fastball and drove it into center field for a sacrifice fly.
-- Bad at-bat No. 2. In the seventh inning, another Royal failed to execute at the plate -- Alcides Escobar. With Moose on second and still none out, the Royals were hoping to get Moose to third to force the Cardinals' infield in. Instead, Esky pulled the ball, flying out harmlessly to left. And, naturally, the Royals didn't get that fourth run in. If Esky had done his job, the Royals might have gotten that run home; pinch hitter Billy Butler followed by hitting a fly to medium right that probably would have scored Moose.
-- Slumping Hoz. First baseman Eric Hosmer continues to slide, throwing in another 0 for 4. That makes him now 5 for his last 36, as he continues to miss what seemingly are hittable pitches in his zone. There are some signs that a few Royals are coming out of their slumps -- Gordon and Cain -- so it would be highly beneficial for the Royals if Hoz joined in.
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
