Royals take bid for first ever joint perfect game into 8th inning
May 29, 2023
British stone. LOUIS — Six years ago, Mike Mayers stood on the same mound he pitched on Monday afternoon. He made his major league debut in 2016 for the Cardinals, who drafted him in the third round three years ago.
opens series against St.Louis During the war, he almost became a part of history.
when Nolan Arenado and Wilson Contreras have six outs in MLB’s first perfect game as Kansas City beat No. 1 7-0 at Busch Stadium Eight innings, playing singles in a row.
Josh Staumont as Royals After a scoreless first inning in the opener, Meyers went on to score zero runs in six fine games.
As each inning goes by, the Royals Gradually become aware of the underlying history.
“I didn’t know until the sixth inning ,” said Vinnie Pasquantino, who went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. “Then I looked up, ‘Oh. We didn’t give up. No one was first. Okay then. Okay. Now we’re gone.'”
“Every time I keep checking which inning we’re at, I’m like, ‘Dude, It’s getting more interesting,'” manager Matt Quatraro said.
“The sixth game is here, you Saw what happened,” Bobby Witt Jr., in the ninth, added. “Seventh inning. Eighth inning. Awesome to be a part of.”
As for Meyers? Oh, he got it.
“You try to keep it business as usual, With [catcher] Freddie [Fermin] and [pitching coach Brian] Sweeney and [Zach] Bovo every inning discussing who’s going to play and how we’re going to attack them,” Meyers said. “[We are discussing] what happened last inning and whether we need to make any changes.
” But you sure know it. “
is more for Meyers What’s special is where he’s pitching and what he’s pitching to. His debut in 2016 didn’t go well, with Meyers needing 62 pitches to get four strikeouts against the Dodgers. In fact, Meyers was in Four seasons in St. Louis weren’t always smooth sailing, with a 7.03 ERA for the Cardinals.
But without his time in St.Louis, he probably wouldn’t be pitching Monday, throwing the best game of his career.
“This organization made me a major league players,” Meyers said. “I am eternally grateful to them. I wasn’t always the best major league player out there. …my story, it’s not always easy, but everyone has a different way of getting here and a different way of staying here. There are adversities and there are ups and downs. Taking advantage of my time there has helped me a lot. “
Meyers believes veteran Adam Adam Wainwright, his biggest mentor, allowed three runs in five innings.
“It’s an absolutely incredible honor to take on someone I’ve admired for so long. said Meyers. “He showed you how to be a professional.” How to live every day. “
Cardinals designate Meyers On duty in 2019, he signed with the Angels in ’20. He’s DFA again in ’22. The 31-year-old signed a minor league deal with the Royals this offseason and didn’t let the ball go Team out of spring training.
Royals at 5 Called up Meyers on Feb. 17 as injury pileup required a fifth starter. He had a 1.35 ERA in three games and two starters.
“He’s confident in his stuff,” Quatraro said. “We know this year we need him. We need other people. You don’t go through a year with five starters. So we’re confident he’ll be able to come here and do a good job. “
Historic game or not, The Royals pitcher allowed just two hits and no walks against a strong Cardinals lineup. Kansas City set Staumont as the opener to see if it could help him become more effective, and the game ended with 1-2-3 over, top hitter against St. Louis.
After a 3-0 win over starter Lars Nootbaar, Staumont got a fly and then hit Paul Goldschmidt with a slider for a quick 98 mph The ball hits Nolan Gorman.
“There’s a part of you that sits there and says, ‘Okay, this is a turning point,'” Staumont said. “I’m not trying to start 3-0, but when you get there, you’re like, ‘Now it’s the turn. By the time I picked myself up, quickly readjusted and refocused. ‘”
Staumont on Monday played down his A role in potential history. But the Royals wouldn’t be perfect without him.
“Those perfect games are special,” Staumont said. It’s hard to avoid these bats. They know everything about us. It does require some kind of special light.
“But I pitched an inning. [ Mayers] All in.”
