KANSAS CITY, MO. — Things unraveled quickly in Wednesday’s 10-0 blowout loss that saw infielder Jacob Amaya make his first major-league appearance as a pitcher.
Starter Davis Martin was hit around in his shortest start of the season after allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Martin did well to limit damage despite the traffic he faced early on. But in the fifth, he allowed a leadoff walk to Jonathan India and a single to Bobby Witt Jr. before being replaced by Vasil.
Relievers Mike Vasil and Jared Shuster struggled in their appearances, combining to allow six runs.
The Sox suffered their 11th straight loss at Kauffman Stadium, extending their franchise record They’re now 2-14 vs. the American League Central.
“Not good,” manager Will Venable said of the game. “We just couldn’t get anything going offensively. Davis actually pitched okay then in the fifth ran into some trouble trying to keep it close. At the end [the game] got away from us.”
The Sox were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. In the fifth, the Sox had runners on first and third after a leadoff double by Andrew Vaughn and Joshua Palacios single with no outs. Lenyn Sosa reached base on a fielder’s choice after Vaughn tried to score from third on Sosa’s soft tapper. Brooks Baldwin hit into a double play to end the inning.
“In that situation if it’s not a double play ball then you don’t have to go,” Venable said. “It’s something that we’ll talk about and walk through. It’s kind of one of those in between plays where you know they’re back, so you think that they’re not going to come get you but you don’t have to go. It’s not a double-play ball.”
The Sox’ offense scored just four runs in four games against the Royals, three of which came in Tuesday’s 4-3 loss that saw the Sox cough up a 3-2 lead in the ninth. Martin said the team has to go out and take wins. He said the desire and effort is there, but that the team needs to execute better and not let games get away from them.
“It’s the big leagues,” Martin said, “there’s always a point in the game where you lose it or you win it.”
Taylor reaches 10 years of service time
Milestones offer time for reflection. With balloons at his locker forming the number 10 inside the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, Thursday was a day for remembrance for right fielder Michael A. Taylor reached 10 years of major-league service time.
“It’s very special,” said Taylor. “Definitely grateful for an opportunity to play this game as long as I have.”
Taylor has played 1,114 career games over his 12-year career with five MLB teams.It hasn’t been the easiest of roads for Taylor in the big leagues, but rather a rocky, circuitous journey.
“It hasn’t been smooth sailing the whole time, but I think that’s what makes it special,” Taylor said.
Injury report
Catcher Korey Lee (left ankle sprain) and Gage Workman (right hip flexor strain) will begin their injury rehab assignments at Triple-A Charlotte Friday.
• Outfielder Mike Tauchman (right hamstring strain) is scheduled to begin his assignment in Charlotte on Saturday.