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Mondesi’s first career hit highlights 4-run rally
- Updated: July 28, 2016
KANSAS CITY — Royals rookie Raul Mondesi has another reason to remember his first Major League hit — it helped win a game on his 21st birthday.
Mondesi’s bunt single helped trigger a four-run seventh that rallied the Royals to a 7-5 win over the Angels on Wednesday night, snapping their four-game losing streak. The Angels played the game under protest because of what manager Mike Scioscia believed was a misinterpretation of the rules on Mondesi’s eventual hit.
Mondesi, just called up from Triple-A on Tuesday, was attempting a sacrifice with none out and runners on first and second. His bunt was fielded by Angels starter Matt Shoemaker, who threw late and wild to first base. The ball rolled into the right-field corner as both baserunners scored, tying the game at 3, and Mondesi reached third base. Mondesi then scored on a Jarrod Dyson triple, and the Royals had the lead for good.
Scioscia believed Mondesi was out of the baseline and should’ve been called out, with the runners remaining on first and second.
“I had an angle; I just made a bad throw,” Shoemaker said. “The worst part is that he was probably going to be safe anyway. I just kind of dropped my back shoulder and threw it.”
The Angels dropped their first game in six tries against the Royals this season. Left-hander Danny Duffy started for the Royals and gave up three runs over six innings. He walked two and struck out five. Shoemaker also went six innings, giving up eight hits and five runs.
The Angels trailed by four heading into the ninth, but they made it interesting against normally lights-out closer Wade Davis, loading the bases with only one out. Albert Pujols then drew a walk, Jefry Marte hit a line drive directly into Mondesi’s glove at second base and Andrelton Simmons ripped a single to center field, making it a two-run game. But Jett Bandy struck out swinging on a full-count, low-and-inside cutter, giving the Angels their first loss in six games against the Royals this season.
“The problem we’ve had lately is that we haven’t had enough innings to keep Wade sharp,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s been pitching every three or four or five days and it …
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