Prior to the start of their Cactus League opener, the Royals and Texas Rangers paid tribute to Yordano Ventura.
Before the game, Gomez & Beltre placed flowers on the mound in honor of Yordano Ventura & we observed a moment of silence. #Ace30 pic.twitter.com/OcZyOH1XDa
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) February 25, 2017
Surprise city official Wayne Turner presented a plaque to Royals manager Ned Yost in honor of Ventura. The plaque will permanently remain on a stadium wall.
Salvador Perez had a double and homer, and drove in four runs in the Royals’ 7-5 victory over the Rangers.
Perez said, “I just got lucky.”
In Florida, new leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler drew two walks and scored twice. Matt Carpenter batting third, hit a homer and drove in three runs in the Cardinals 8-7 loss to the Miami Marlins.
“The way we manufactured that run in the first inning was key,” Fowler said. “If we can do that, we’ll win a lot of games.”
