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BOSTON ( KELLY )
KANSAS CITY ( VARGAS ) |
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7.5un
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Final
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| 971 | BOSTON | +150 | Ov 8,-105 | +160 | Ov 7.5,+110 | | 972 | KANSAS CITY | -160 | Un 8,-115 | -170 | Un 7.5,-130 |
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| All Games | 65-84 | -27.8 | 63-82 | 3.8 | 0.242 | 0.310 | 4.4 | 0.258 | 0.318 | | Road Games | 34-40 | -2.5 | 32-39 | 3.9 | 0.232 | 0.293 | 4.2 | 0.252 | 0.311 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 21-26 | -9.6 | 18-27 | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.315 | 4.7 | 0.257 | 0.318 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.2 | 3-4 | 2.7 | 0.215 | 0.271 | 4.7 | 0.259 | 0.310 | | Grass Games | 57-72 | -25 | 54-72 | 3.8 | 0.244 | 0.313 | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.319 | | Day Games | 17-25 | -11.2 | 16-24 | 3.7 | 0.228 | 0.303 | 4.2 | 0.250 | 0.310 |
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| All Games | 3.8 | 0.242 | 0.310 | 149 | 5112 | 1238 | 392 | 111 | 0.02 | 543 | 500 | 1219 | 56 | 1089 | 146 | 86 | | | | Road Games | 3.9 | 0.232 | 0.293 | 74 | 2597 | 602 | 183 | 66 | 0.03 | 276 | 223 | 649 | 31 | 515 | 70 | 31 | | | | Lefty Starters | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.315 | 47 | 1613 | 393 | 144 | 37 | 0.02 | 176 | 168 | 385 | 12 | 353 | 46 | 33 | | |
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| All Games | 3.28 | 1.260 | 458.7 | 183 | 167 | 435 | 42 | 143 | 415 | 20-27 | 34 | 17 | 66.7% | | Road Games | 3.15 | 1.288 | 202.7 | 79 | 71 | 197 | 22 | 64 | 184 | 7-15 | 22 | 9 | 71% |
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| All Games | 81-66 | +5 | 64-76 | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.307 | 3.8 | 0.250 | 0.305 | | Home Games | 39-34 | -6.4 | 33-39 | 3.7 | 0.252 | 0.299 | 4.2 | 0.261 | 0.314 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 60-47 | +3.6 | 48-53 | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.304 | 3.7 | 0.247 | 0.304 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -2.2 | 3-4 | 3.4 | 0.245 | 0.296 | 3.4 | 0.218 | 0.278 | | Grass Games | 77-63 | +3.5 | 61-73 | 4.0 | 0.259 | 0.306 | 3.8 | 0.249 | 0.304 | | Day Games | 24-24 | -2.8 | 23-24 | 3.9 | 0.259 | 0.308 | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.313 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.261 | 0.307 | 147 | 5021 | 1308 | 369 | 89 | 0.02 | 546 | 336 | 876 | 137 | 961 | 139 | 95 | | | | Home Games | 3.7 | 0.252 | 0.299 | 73 | 2386 | 601 | 175 | 39 | 0.02 | 251 | 160 | 414 | 76 | 442 | 58 | 45 | | | | Righty Starters | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.304 | 107 | 3656 | 945 | 266 | 63 | 0.02 | 398 | 238 | 632 | 104 | 691 | 90 | 62 | | |
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| All Games | 3.38 | 1.248 | 410.3 | 169 | 154 | 359 | 29 | 153 | 391 | 25-15 | 48 | 9 | 84.2% | | Home Games | 4.11 | 1.345 | 212.6 | 101 | 97 | 203 | 17 | 83 | 216 | 17-6 | 27 | 4 | 87.1% |
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| 8/31/2014 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | COBB(R) | 3-0 | W | 140 | 7 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | | 9/1/2014 | DE LA ROSA(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | SMYLY(L) | 3-4 | L | 165 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 9/2/2014 | KELLY(R) | @ NY YANKEES | GREENE(R) | 9-4 | W | 140 | 8.5 ov | O | 12 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 9/3/2014 | RANAUDO(R) | @ NY YANKEES | KURODA(R) | 1-5 | L | 165 | 8.5 ov | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 9/4/2014 | WORKMAN(R) | @ NY YANKEES | CAPUANO(L) | 4-5 | L | 135 | 8.5 ev | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 9/5/2014 | WEBSTER(R) | TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 9-8 | W | +100 | 9.5 ov | O | 17 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 1 | | 9/6/2014 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | TORONTO | HAPP(L) | 4-3 | W | -135 | 9 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 9/7/2014 | DE LA ROSA(R) | TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 1-3 | L | +110 | 9 un | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 9/8/2014 | KELLY(R) | BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | 0-4 | L | -120 | 9 un | U | 7 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 1 | | 9/9/2014 | RANAUDO(R) | BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 1-4 | L | +110 | 8.5 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 9/10/2014 | WORKMAN(R) | BALTIMORE | CHEN(L) | 6-10 | L | +120 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 9/11/2014 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | HENDRIKS(R) | 6-3 | W | 115 | 7.5 un | O | 9 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 3 | | 9/12/2014 | WEBSTER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 4-2 | W | 182 | 7 un | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | 9/13/2014 | DE LA ROSA(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 1-7 | L | 130 | 7.5 un | O | 4 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 1 | | 9/14/2014 | KELLY(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | | | 9/16/2014 | RANAUDO(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | WORLEY(R) | | | 9/17/2014 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 9/18/2014 | WORKMAN(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 9/19/2014 | WEBSTER(R) | @ BALTIMORE | NORRIS(R) | | | 9/20/2014 | | @ BALTIMORE | GONZALEZ(R) | | | 9/21/2014 | | @ BALTIMORE | | |
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| 9/1/2014 | VENTURA(R) | TEXAS | LEWIS(R) | 4-3 | W | -205 | 8 un | U | 10 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 9/2/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | TEXAS | HOLLAND(L) | 2-1 | W | -150 | 8 un | U | 8 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 9/3/2014 | VARGAS(L) | TEXAS | TEPESCH(R) | 4-1 | W | -170 | 8 ev | U | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 1 | | 9/5/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 1-0 | W | 110 | 7.5 un | U | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 9/6/2014 | DUFFY(L) | @ NY YANKEES | MCCARTHY(R) | 2-6 | L | 110 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | | 9/7/2014 | VENTURA(R) | @ NY YANKEES | GREENE(R) | 2-0 | W | -105 | 7.5 ev | U | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | | 9/8/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | @ DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | 5-9 | L | 125 | 8.5 un | O | 8 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 8 | 0 | | 9/9/2014 | VARGAS(L) | @ DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | 2-4 | L | 155 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 11 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | | 9/10/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | @ DETROIT | PORCELLO(R) | 3-0 | W | 100 | 8.5 un | U | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 9/11/2014 | HENDRIKS(R) | BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | 3-6 | L | -125 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 1 | | 9/12/2014 | VENTURA(R) | BOSTON | WEBSTER(R) | 2-4 | L | -195 | 7 un | U | 4 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 9/13/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | BOSTON | DE LA ROSA(R) | 7-1 | W | -140 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | | 9/14/2014 | VARGAS(L) | BOSTON | KELLY(R) | | | 9/15/2014 | SHIELDS(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | DANKS(L) | | | 9/16/2014 | DUFFY(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | BASSITT(R) | | | 9/17/2014 | VENTURA(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | | | 9/19/2014 | GUTHRIE(R) | DETROIT | LOBSTEIN(L) | | | 9/20/2014 | VARGAS(L) | DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | | | 9/21/2014 | | DETROIT | | |
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| |  | BOSTON: BOSTON (AP) - Last season was one to remember for fans of the Red Sox - and one to forget for the players.
Soon after Boston's third World Series championship in 10 years, that bearded bunch decided to put it behind them and focus on what they must do to keep winning.
''It was a dream come true last year,'' pitcher Jake Peavy said. ''It's a new year. I think that's been a slogan of ours on the text messages that we've been exchanging with the guys, `Hey turn the page, it's a new year, it's 2014.' We haven't done anything and, obviously, some teams in our division got awfully better.''
The Red Sox won't be sneaking up on them, not after rebounding from a 69-93, last-place finish in the AL East to a 97-65 record, a 28-win improvement.
''You've got the bull's-eye on your back,'' second baseman Dustin Pedroia said. ''You want to get everybody's best, so I think it's going to be a fun challenge for everybody.''
John Farrell's disciplined, businesslike approach worked in his first year as Boston's manager. That, and the influx of players to improve the toxic clubhouse chemistry, made the one season under the animated Bobby Valentine seem like a distant memory.
Those players, including Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli and Shane Victorino, return. The Red Sox lost center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury to the New York Yankees then signed Grady Sizemore as a possible replacement. Sizemore missed the last two seasons with knee and back injuries that required surgery but has had a healthy, productive spring training.
''In this group, no one's going to let anybody sit back and relax,'' Pedroia said. ''We're always going to push each other and make sure that we're respecting the game and playing the game the right way. If we do that, we should be all right.''
| | KANSAS CITY: KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - James Shields thinks back to last year, thoughtfully piecing together what was missing from the Kansas City Royals as they made a late push for the postseason.
The pitching was strong. The offense was coming around. The defense was sublime.
He finally settled on experience.
''These guys that didn't realize or have never been to September, when you're fighting for a playoff spot, now you have that experience,'' Shields said. ''And I think that was one of the things we were lacking last season, the experience. You tend to put too much on your shoulders. And I think the second half we definitely relaxed and put all that aside and had fun and played the game the way we know how to play, and it showed.
''I think with the experience factor now,'' Shields concluded, ''we're ready to go.''
After finishing 86-76 a year ago, and contending into September for the first time in a decade, the Royals have their sets sight squarely on their first playoff appearance since 1985 this year.
Anything less would be a disappointment. Anything less would be a failure.
''Last year was a blast. When the end of the season came in Chicago, nobody wanted to leave,'' first baseman Eric Hosmer said. ''They knew how close we were. We were right there. And it left a good taste in everyone's mouth going into the offseason, knowing how good everyone can be.''
Indeed, the Royals return most of their key players from a year ago, signing left-hander Jason Vargas to replace their only significant loss, starting pitcher Ervin Santana. They also upgraded at their weakest spots, trading for Norichika Aoki to play right field and bat leadoff and signing Omar Infante to settle a second base position that has been a black hole for years.
All of which left the notoriously frugal franchise with a record-setting payroll.
Royals manager Ned Yost hopes all those moves will pay off for a rotation that was among the league's best last year, and an offense that was among the league's worst.
''It's going to be a lineup that has offensive sequence from one to nine. You're not going to have any dead spots,'' Yost said. ''You're not going to get something going and then bam, run into a wall and have to get going again. At least, I hope not. I don't think so.''
So with more experience and an upgraded lineup, Kansas City enters its season opener Sunday at Detroit with boundless enthusiasm. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (BOSTON-KANSAS CITY) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Red Sox-Royals Preview* ========================
By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor
Boston (65-83) at Kansas City (80-66), 2:10 p.m. EDT
After losing a series to the team they're chasing in the AL Central, the Kansas City Royals can't afford to drop another to a last-place club.
With a chance to end the weekend alone atop the division, the Royals aim to salvage a split of this four-game set with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Four home games against last-place Boston gave Kansas City a golden opportunity to strengthen its grip on first place in the Central after it dropped two of three at Detroit to cut its lead to one game. However, the Royals (81-66) weren't sharp in losing the first two contests, scoring five runs and committing four errors.
They bounced back with a 7-1 victory Saturday behind Jeremy Guthrie's eight innings of three-hit ball and their best offensive showing in nearly a month. Kansas City reaped the benefits of a revised lineup to reach seven runs for the first time since Aug. 19, a 22-game span.
With his team averaging 2.5 runs and batting .208 over an eight-game stretch, manager Ned Yost moved Alcides Escobar, Nori Aoki and Lorenzo Cain into the top three spots in the order, dropped Eric Hosmer and Omar Infante to sixth and seventh and inserted Jarrod Dyson into the nine-hole.
Infante responded with three singles and two RBIs while the top four spots in the lineup were a combined 7 for 15 with six runs.
With their first win in six tries this season against the Red Sox (65-84), the Royals remained one-half game behind the Tigers, who rallied for a 5-4 win over Cleveland.
"I think we've approached all the games the same," Guthrie said. "That's the easiest way to do it. I think if you try to approach every game differently - like yesterday was less important, and today's and tomorrow's are subtly important, but Monday's game is way more important. I think it is difficult to prepare like that."
Guthrie's performance lowered Kansas City's ERA from its starters to 1.76 in the last seven home games, a trend Jason Vargas (11-8, 3.25 ERA) hopes to continue Sunday.
The left-hander wasn't sharp in a 4-2 loss at Detroit on Tuesday, giving up four runs and six hits with three walks over 5 1-3 innings. It was the third loss in four starts for Vargas, who has posted a 2.60 ERA over his past seven outings but is only 3-3 in those games while his teammates have supported him with 14 total runs.
This will be Vargas' first look at the Red Sox in over two years, last facing them Sept. 3, 2012, with Seattle.
The Red Sox lost for the fifth time in seven games despite getting David Ortiz (toe) and Mike Napoli back (finger) in the lineup after both sat out Friday. Ortiz had two of Boston's four hits.
Napoli is mired in a 7-for-42 slump but facing Vargas could help him find his stroke. He's 12 for 32 with four homers and two doubles in their matchups.
Joe Kelly (1-2, 3.95) seeks a fourth straight quality start for Boston. The right-hander was saddled with a 4-0 loss to Baltimore on Monday after allowing three earned runs over 6 1-3 innings.
While he's posted a 3.00 ERA in his last four starts, control continues to be an issue for Kelly, who has walked 25 over 41 innings in seven outings since joining the Red Sox.
Both of Kelly's starts against the Royals came in 2012 with St. Louis. He went 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in those games.
Aoki is 7 for 13 with three doubles against Kelly and Mike Moustakas is 3 for 4 with a homer.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 9:06:25 AM EST. |
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