KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Royals manager Matt Quatraro devised a bold plan in the face of injuries in his starting rotation: to rely exclusively on the bullpen for the final game of the series against the Atlanta Braves. What no one imagined was the perfection with which nine relievers would execute the plan, tying a Major League record in the process. In the top of the tenth inning, Sam Long, after getting out of a jam with no outs by retiring three Braves batters, and Salvador Pérez, with a single to right field that drove in MJ Melendez, secured the 1-0 victory for the Royals. This result allowed them to tie the league record, achieved by Cleveland in 2016, by using nine pitchers in a scoreless game.
The Royals’ nine pitchers combined to allow five hits and one walk, striking out 10 batters. Long, with an effectiveness of 7.40 this season, took the victory. Angel Zerpa, without rest, opened the game. Jonathan Bowlan was the only reliever to retire more than three batters, pitching two complete innings. John Schreiber struck out all the batters in the fourth inning. Hunter Harvey got out of a jam with no outs in the sixth. Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estevez, Kansas City’s main closers, made important plays in the final innings. Erceg allowed a single to Drake Baldwin, but managed to retire Jurickson Profar and Matt Olson. Estevez caught a fly ball from Michael Harris II in the ninth inning.Not only did they pitch incredibly well today, but they’ve had a heavy workload in the last four or five days. I can’t thank them enough, and to maintain the right mindset down there, and the plan that these guys had to execute.
Matt Quatraro
Joey Wentz, Braves pitcher, allowed one hit and three walks in 6 2/3 innings, with seven strikeouts. Wentz, born in Kansas and with a distinguished high school career, was selected in the first round in 2016, but has not met expectations.I’m glad he caught it. If you’re going to pitch a game without runs, you need good defense behind you.
Matt Quatraro
The Royals were able to rely on their relievers, as they had a day off before the weekend series in Toronto. This was crucial due to injuries in the starting rotation. Cole Ragans, All-Star last year, is on the injured list with a left rotator cuff strain, and Michael Lorenzen joined him with a left oblique strain. In addition, Kris Bubic, also an All-Star, was placed on the injured list with a rotator cuff injury, which will likely end his season. Therefore, the Royals’ bullpen had to take responsibility, with only one player available, Thomas Hatch, by the time Pérez hit the game-winning single in the tenth inning. It wasn’t easy. There was danger there at times. But you step back and see what Sammy did there, and really execute, that was huge. But even more than the 10 scoreless innings, the workload they’ve had and the way they responded, especially in a day game after a night game.We could never figure it out.
Matt Quatraro
