The Royals showcased their resilience on Sunday, ultimately splitting their doubleheader with contrasting outcomes. Following a tough 8 – 4 loss to Knox’s Cubs, where the Royals mustered only seven hits, the Royals roared back with a dominant, 12 – 0 demolition of Weinfeld/Barth’s Pirates in the nightcap.
Scott Greenberg showcased his dominance once again with two outstanding pitching performances, totaling 12 innings pitched and yielding only eight runs (six earned) for a solid 3.0 ERA. The highlight of the doubleheader was his remarkable 2-hit shutout against a formidable Pirates team that had just hammered the Angels for 17 runs.
For the second straight week, the Royals’ pitching and defense shone brightly, yielding just eight runs total after allowing nine runs total to the Yankees last week. It was a defensive clinic, with four double plays turned and their sixth outfield assist of the season.
Royals’ catcher, Chris Peterson, deserves special recognition for his outstanding, gritty performance despite battling through an injury. He went a perfect 3 – 3 with a walk, scoring two runs in the doubleheader. Peterson’s unwavering determination and flawless execution (he never made an out, efficiently turning the lineup over with each at-bat) epitomized the ultimate team player.
Playing both of their games on field 4 with a challenging 16-mph crosswind blowing from right to left field, the Royals ransacked and pillaged the Pirates early, with Tommy Apligian, Drew Waggoner, and Greenberg all contributing with doubles and runs scored to begin the game. After holding the Pirates scoreless in a 1–2–3 bottom of the first, the Royals cycled through their lineup for the fifth time this season, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs in the top of the second. Apligian, Kyzer Hoover, and Ronel Martinez led the charge with 2-run doubles, fueling a remarkable nine-run offensive explosion.
The Royals pounded out 14 hits, with eight of them going for extra bases.
While the Pirates scraped together three baserunners via singles from Andrew Williams and Todd Dicken, and a walk to Dwayne Henson, Greenberg’s masterful pitching limited the Pirates to just one over the minimum across five innings. At the same time, the Royals’ impeccable defense recorded two pivotal double plays (4–6–3 and 6–4–3) in the fourth and fifth innings, sealing their victory by the mercy of the run rule after five innings with a commanding 12-run lead.
Game 2 Offensive Stars
Andy Wetterlin 2 – 2, 1 Run, BB
Drew Waggoner 1 – 1, 1 Run, 2 RBI, SF, BB, 2B
Chris Peterson 1 – 1, 1 Run, BB
Tommy Apligian 2 – 3, 2 Runs, 2 RBI, (2) 2B
Kyzer Hoover 2 – 3, 1 Run, 2 RBI, 2B
Ronel Martinez 2 – 3, 1 Run, 2 RBI, 2B
Scott Greenberg 2 – 3, 2 Runs, 1 RBI, 2B
Adwild Perez 1 – 2, 1 Run, 1 RBI, BB, 2B
In the opener, the Royals were unable to solve the Cubs’ ace John Burke, who stifled their offense, fanning two, while allowing just one walk and seven hits. Peterson stood out as the lone Royal to collect two hits in the game.
Greenberg delivered a solid performance, allowing eight runs (six earned) in his complete game effort. The Royals defense remained sharp with two more double plays (4–6–3 and 6–4–3) in the fourth and fifth innings, while Drew Waggoner teamed up with Andy Wetterlin to record the Royals’ sixth outfield assist of the season as Waggoner gunned down former Royal, Tim Kaminski, to deny his attempt to advance from first to third on a single in the first inning, limiting the damage to one run and effectively ending the inning.
Greenberg Tosses 2-hit Shutout as Royals Split Doubleheader
