In the first six games against the Detroit Tigers, the Royals were 6-0 and held the Tigers to 11 run. In one inning, the Tigers nearly matched that total of relief pitcher Jimmy Gobble in a 19-4 win over Kansas City.
Royals starter Luke Hochevar struggled all night with his control as his pitch count ran up high. Hochevar ran into trouble in the third, giving up five runs capped by a three run homer by Matt Joyce who had 5 RBI. The Tigers added two more on Hochevar in the 5 th and two more runs in the 7 th off Robinson Tejada.
Jimmy Gobble was brought in to pitch the 8 th and ended up taking one for the team to save the bullpen as the Tigers kept pounding the hits. Here’s the 8 th inning rundown on Gobble: 1IP, 10R, 7H, 4BB, 0K, ERA now at 11.31. Gobble gave up a single, single, double, single, single, home run, out, out, walk, single, walk, walk, walk.
Leo Nunez finally replaced Gobble and he promptly gave up a double and single leaving all ten runs charged to Gobble.
Manager Trey Hillman and Jimmy Gobble talk about the night along with Detroit’s Matt Joyce who almost sounds sympathetic on the blow out.