Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro was frustrated that his team was left hanging. His counterpart with the Toronto Blue Jays, John Schneider, was disappointed that his men did not have the opportunity to finish a game they were losing. Quatraro at least felt better in the end.
After playing for five innings, and after an interruption of three hours and 38 minutes, the Royals won 2-1 against the Blue Jays on Thursday.
The Kansas City squad has won the last three duels of this series of four against the Blue Jays — all three by a margin of one point.
Salvador Perez provided the Royals with two runs thanks to a home run off José Berrios (4-1) in the first inning. Cole Ragans (1-2) signed his first victory this season after allowing one run, three hits and three walks.
“What frustrated me was waiting for a decision, whether it was one way or the other,” Quatraro said. Tell us to go to the field or go home. »
This strange situation arose late in the fifth inning, when an early drizzle turned into steady rain.
Head official Chris Guccione asked for the tarp to come cover the infield, but Schneider came to talk with him for an opportunity to tie the score or take the lead. He eventually convinced Guccione.
After about 10 minutes, the official asked for the tarp again. The infield was covered for about two hours and when the rain stopped, the grounds maintenance crew spent another hour or more working.
The result was made official because the required threshold of five rounds had been reached.
“The team tried to remove the old soil and apply new,” Guccione said. The section at shortstop and third base was squishy. It was not good for the sport. Player safety is our priority. » The decision did not satisfy Schneider.
“I think the whole day was poorly managed, from the start of the match,” he said. What was said was that the pitch was impassable and they did not want to continue the game. In my opinion, the pitch was in much better condition than in the third, fourth and fifth innings. »
Berrios’ streak of 22 1/3 innings without a run ended when Perez catapulted the first shot he saw over the left-field fence. Vinnie Pasquantino preceded Perez at the plate.
Ragans had to get out of trouble quickly, as he placed runners on the ends in the second inning. He struck out Alejandro Kirk on a flystand.
In the fourth inning, the Blue Jays followed Davis Schneider’s walk with hits from Justin Turner and Ernie Clement to cut the lead to 2-1. Daulton Varsho and Kirk, however, were unable to tie the game.
The Toronto team had another chance in the fifth inning, but center fielder Kyle Isbel made a superb catch at the warning track.
After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a walk, Bo Bichette raised a flyer into foul territory to end the Blue Jays’ last appearance at the plate.