The Sports Xchange
Sep 30, 2017
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jake Junis logged his ninth victory and Jorge Bonifacio blasted a three-run homer as the rookies rallied the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night.
Junis shares the American League lead for rookie pitchers. He limited the Diamondbacks to two runs and five hits in six innings.
One of the hits was a home run by A.J. Pollock in the sixth.
Bonifacio's sixth-inning home run was his 17th of the season, the most by a Royals rookie since Eric Hosmer hit 19 in 2011. Hosmer homered on a 2-2 offering off Archie Bradley (3-3).
Daniel Descalso's triple in the eighth scored Pollock, trimming the Kansas City lead to one run.
Mike Minor picked up sixth save but had to work around a Christian Walker pinch-double to leadoff the inning.
David Peralta doubled on Junis' first pitch. Ketel Marte drove Junis' second pitch to deep center, but Lorenzo Cain made a web-gem catch to rob him of extra-bases and an RBI.
The Royals scored first in the fourth inning, which Cain led off with a walk. Hosmer singled and Cain swiped third for his 26th stolen base of the season and scored when Mike Moustakas grounded into a double play.
The Diamondbacks tied it in the fifth, which Rey Fuentes started with a walk and stole second. Peralta's double down the first-base line scored Fuentes.
Alcides Escobar doubled with one out in the fifth, his 16th extra-base hit in September to set a Royals record for a calendar month by a shortstop. Escobar was stranded.
Arizona starter Taijuan Walker was pulled after five innings and 76 pitches. He allowed one run and three hits, walked one and struck out six. Archie Bradley replaced him.
NOTES: Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo made it official when he said RHP Zack Greinke will start the wild-card game Wednesday against the Rockies. ... Arizona C Jeff Mathis, who was on the disabled list with a broken right hand, was activated and started. ... Diamondbacks RHP Jimmie Sherfy is day to day with right triceps tightness. ... Royals LHP Danny Duffy will undergo a minor procedure Tuesday to remove floating chips in his elbow, which created inflammation this season. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas was honored before the game for breaking the club season home run record with 37. He and his father, who is also Mike, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... LHPs Robbie Ray of the Diamondbacks and Jason Vargas of the Royals are the starters for the season finale. Vargas will be going for his 19th victory, which would lead the American League.