ST. PETERSBURG — Royals right-hander Jordan Lyles waited at the top of the steps Saturday, giving out high-fives as his teammates came down from the visiting bench to enter their victorious clubhouse at Tropicana Field. There was a smile everywhere.
Lyles finally escaped the shadow of unwanted history — the Royals hadn’t won with him on the mound that season, a 0-for-15 streak that had set an MLB record in the live-ball era (since 1920). – and he did it with flying colours, as Kansas City defeated Tampa Bay 9-4.
“It was another reminder that shaking hands after games is a lot of fun,” Lyles (1-11) said after his first win with the Royals. “Obviously we didn’t do that when I did it [started]. It feels really good to win.
“My way of thinking hasn’t changed for a record. I’m a very positive guy overall. I believe the next day is another day to get better. It may sound cliche, but I’m still learning and still trying to get better. “I always try to find something that will get me over the hill.”
Lyles said he was most pleased with the manner of Saturday’s win. He went through six innings and allowed four runs with eight hits. But he was solidly backed by the Royals’ offense, which crushed a Rays 4-0 lead after two innings.
The difference was a two-out, three-run home run by catcher Freddy Fermin in game four against Rays starter Yonny Chirinos, giving the Royals a 6-4 lead they weren’t about to give up. Drew Waters and Edward Olivares also contributed solo home runs in 11-hit offense.
But the biggest factor was pitching. After a single from Vidal Bruján in the fourth inning, Kansas City pitchers (Lyles, Carlos Hernández and Nick Wittgren) knocked out the last 17 Rays batters to come into play and in MLB at runs per game (5.62) and Hits (708) was in second place. And Kansas City did it after Tampa Bay put on a 17-hit offensive offensive in Friday night’s 11-3 win over the Royals.
“We achieved a really efficient pitch count [from Lyles] and the lights were off in the bullpen,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “You feel really good for Jordan. Someone like him who has been in this game for a long time takes a lot of pride in what he does. He did very well at it [winless drought].”
With the Rays leading 4-0 to Lyles after two innings, Quatraro said the Royals’ third inning with three runs, initiated by Waters’ solo home run, was a necessary response. It allowed the Royals, who have 28 gambled leads in the MLB top flight this season, to pull off a comeback win.
“Come down [four runs] “It didn’t look great, but our guys stayed aggressive and tried to hit the first pitch and they did it,” Quatraro said.
“Every time a team goes up at four [runs] “And if you don’t answer, it’s pretty difficult,” Waters said. “But we recovered and put in some runs. You show the other team that there is still life. “At the end of the game we were really open.”
In the fourth set, with Olivares and Waters onboard with two outs, Fermin turned the game with a three-run blast on Chirinos’ first bid. Fermin added two singles and finished the game 3-3.
“That was my plan [to jump the first pitch],” Fermin said. “As soon as I hit the ball, I knew it was gone.”
The Royals (22-55) can win the series against the Rays (53-27) with a win on Sunday. The Rays (33-10 on trop) have had a lot since March 25-26. Lost no consecutive home games against the Astros in April.
“One hopes that it inspires confidence and momentum, but I don’t really believe in it,” Quatraro said. “It’s tomorrow, isn’t it? If we show up tomorrow, the Rays don’t care what happened today. It’s a fresh start.
“It would be great to get out of here, possibly win three games here and finish a good road trip. Every win is a good win. “Anytime you can stack things and line them up, that’s our goal.”
Waters said the performance against the Rays already inspired confidence.
“Everybody in the royals wants to focus on what we’re not doing,” Waters said. “But I think that will show what we are capable of. “As long as we stay on track and keep playing as a team, I think good things are on the way.”