Royals show mettle in 2016 title defense

KANSAS CITY — As the losses piled up during a rough 7-19 July, Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez attempted to analyze what had been ailing the defending World Series champions.

Perez shrugged his shoulders and simply said, “Maybe we’re a little tired.”

Tired. And banged up.

After a run all the way to Game 7 of the 2014 World Series and a five-game World Series triumph over the Mets last season, the Royals’ energy tank eventually showed empty in ’16.

• KC has pieces for return to prominence in ’17

It didn’t help that the Royals lost third baseman Mike Moustakas (knee surgery) for the season in May. Or that Alex Gordon (wrist) missed over a month. Or that closer Wade Davis (forearm strain) missed over a month. Or that reliever Luke Hochevar (thoracic outlet syndrome) missed the final two months. Or that center fielder Lorenzo Cain (hamstring, sprained hand) hardly played the final two months.

The list goes on and on.

Record: 81-81, third place, American League Central.

Defining moment: After an encouraging 4-2 road trip through Miami and Boston, the Royals returned home in late August for a six-game homestand with the Yankees and Tigers, two teams ahead of them in the Wild Card chase. That’s when the season went awry.

The Royals lost back-to-back extra-inning games to the Yankees, seemingly having both won only to lose them late. In one game, the Royals had the tying run on third and the winning run on second with none out in the 10th inning and the 3-4-5 hitters coming up. They didn’t …

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