Back-to-back triples? There’s a message in how the Royals can overcome their slump
The initial triple was defined by its stumbles — first sending an outfielder into a tailspin before the runner’s own stumble put some uncertainty into the play’s conclusion. (Still safe, by the way.) The second triple was probably best defined by its placement — though the baserunner losing his lid one step shy of a bag added an element of style. Come to think of it, they were each stylistic in their separate ways. The nature of a triple, right? Except these weren’t separated at all. Kyle Isbel and Maikel Garcia packaged them back-to-back. The Royals beat the Guardians 2-1 on Thursday night, the opener of a four-game set that could allow the Royals to turn the American League Central race into something a bit more interesting in the second half.
They did not hit particularly well. Again, I know. The starting pitcher, Michael Wacha, was not particularly happy with his outing, either. But there’s one characteristic, something of a defining characteristic for this team on its home field really, the Royals still did quite well. The triple.
Once. And then twice. Trailing 1-0, Isbel led off the sixth with a shot to right field, and poor right fielder Daniel Schneemann turned left, then turned right and then turned up his glove but couldn’t snag it. Isbel seemed to be cruising into third, but, alas, the stumble made it close. “I thought I was gonna go down for a second,” he said.
Garcia followed. He directed the fourth pitch of his at-bat down the right field line, putting Schneemann to work yet again. Garcia was a tad slow out of the box, but as he lost his helmet, he found steam. Bang-bang play at third. Safe. Tie game. Two batters later, Vinnie Pasquantino sent a sacrifice fly to center. That was that. Royals 2, Guardians 1. On the backs of the first back-to-back triples in nearly two years.
It’s that rare — the outcome, I mean. The reason for it? It has to stick. “That’s the mindset we have to have — always looking to steal an extra 90 (feet),” Isbel said.
It’s been much of who the Royals are this season, and they need it now more than ever. The Royals are struggling to hit the ball lately, in case you haven’t noticed. Nobody in baseball has had a worse 12 days. They’re hitting well under .200 as a team since June 15. The slugging percentage is the second worst in the game. If you think help is or should be coming soon, I’d just ask you to take a
peek at the standings. How many teams would consider themselves without any chance to play October baseball? All but eight teams are within four games of a playoff spot entering the weekend. A couple of those had high hopes entering the season and might still believe they can turn it around.
