Greinke’s road winless streak reaches 25 games

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Royals righty Zack Greinke was one strike away from retaining it a good recreation in Friday evening’s fifth inning. As a substitute, a base hit slipped by the infield, kick-starting an avalanche that allowed the Rays to run away with an 11-3 victory over the Royals at Tropicana Discipline.

For the Royals (21-55), it was one other instance of how little moments usually result in a lot bigger game-losing sequences. In all, 4 Royals pitchers gave up a mixed 17 hits.

And it was yet one more alternative to ponder the seemingly unanswerable query: Why can’t Greinke win a street recreation?

The Royals have misplaced every of the final six street begins by Greinke (1-8) this season. Nevertheless it goes deeper. Greinke hasn’t gained a street recreation since Aug. 13, 2021 — practically two years in the past — and he’s 0-14 with a 6.23 ERA within the 25 street begins since that victory.

“I used to be not conscious of that [road winless streak],’’ Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro stated.

“I assume I have never actually considered it,’’ Greinke stated. “I don’t get lots of wins — interval.’’

For a participant with Greinke’s sensible profession path (224 victories), which may result in Cooperstown, it’s a puzzling statistical oddity. One other oddity: Greinke moved to 0-5 at The Trop (eight profession appearances), one in every of 5 parks the place he has by no means gained (after pitching in 36).

Greinke was haunted by Rays middle fielder Jose Siri (three-run homer within the second inning, then an RBI single within the fourth), however the Royals trailed by only one run (4-3) within the fifth due to homers by Nick Pratto and Salvador Perez, who exited early with a proper hamstring cramp.

Within the fifth, Greinke had runners on the corners with two outs. In opposition to Rays cleanup batter Harold Ramirez, Greinke acquired forward with an 0-2 rely, however then nibbled with two pitches exterior the zone. Ramirez related on Greinke’s 2-2 cutter, hitting a delicate liner to middle, to finish Greinke’s outing.

“Only a floor ball that discovered a gap,’’ Greinke stated. “I by no means really feel like I’m utterly in management anymore. The stuff is simply not nasty sufficient for that to be the case. I felt I may get [Ramirez] to place some delicate contact or attempt to strike him out, nevertheless it was only a base hit.’’

“I imply, not each ball goes to be hit on the screws,’’ Quatraro stated. “They put balls in play with two strikes, acquired some up the center, good placement. You possibly can’t take something away from a hitter who will get the ball in play with two strikes.’’

Quatraro went to right-hander Jose Cuas, who labored 1 1/3 innings (27 pitches) because the opener in Thursday night’s series openerto file the ultimate out within the fifth, however issues acquired worse.

Cuas walked Isaac Paredes, then surrendered a two-run single to Taylor Partitions and an RBI double to Christian Bethancourt, giving the Rays an 8-3 lead in a three-batter sequence that ignited Tampa Bay’s offense.

With the sport separated, Rays’ starter Zach Eflin (9-3) cruised to the victory after the early homers from Pratto and Perez.

“[Eflin] has good things, a cutter he can get in on lefties, an enormous sweeping breaking ball, a fastball he locates,’’ Quatraro stated. “He retains the ball down. He has the weapons to beat anyone.

“I assumed Zack [Greinke] was good early on. We acquired victimized there in his final inning. However aside from that, he gave us an opportunity.’’

However when Ramirez’s fifth-inning hit snuck by the infield, that likelihood evaporated rapidly.