Danny Duffy (photo/MLB)
Danny Duffy, activated from the DL on Wednesday prior to his start, was backed by a seven-run fourth inning, but couldn’t finish the fifth inning and didn’t get credit for the win in an 8-2 final in favor of the Royals over the Mariners. Duffy went 4.2 innings before turning the ball over to Ryan Madsen who finished the inning for the win.
Duffy threw 88 pitches and gave up eight hits, but didn’t walk anybody while striking out four. Ned Yost was happy with the lefty’s command until he started to tire out in the fifth.
“I want to really try to get him through that game, give him the win,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “But I wasn’t going to jeopardize anything. He just didn’t have much left and it affected his command.”
Duffy gave up a sacrifice fly to Franklin Gutierrez and another run scored on an error. Duffy was making his first start since being sidelined with biceps tendonitis.
After being held down in the first three innings, the Royals bats came alive against Mariner’s starter Roenis Elias. Mike Moustakas hit a two-run home run and Omar Infante had a three-run double in the Royals’ seven-run fourth inning. This was the 17th time this season the Royals finished a game with 13 or more hits.