(KANSAS CITY, Mo., AP) — It has been 23 years since the Kansas City Royals logged consecutive shutouts.
Yordano Ventura, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis combined on a four-hitter and the Royals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Tuesday night.
The Royals, who beat the New York Yankees 6-0 on Sunday, had back-to-back shutouts for the first time since Sept. 29-30, 1992, when Dennis Rasmussen and Rick Reed blanked the California Angels.
The Reds have lost four straight, matching their longest streak of the season.
Ventura (3-3), who was 0-3 in his five previous starts since a victory on April 12, allowed four singles, struck out six and walked none. He reached a three-ball count on only four hitters and retired all of them, lowering his ERA to 4.56.
“This is the best I’ve felt this season,” Ventura said with teammate Christian Colon acting as his interpreter. “All my pitches were sharp. I was just focused on having my pitches down in the zone and having quality pitches.”
Ventura left his previous start with an index fingernail tear and that flared up again.
“I started to feel something in the sixth inning and Ned (Yost, manager) just told him let’s get your ready for the next start, let’s take you out of this one,” Ventura said.
Ventura retired 14 on ground balls.
“He went seven innings and got a lot of ground balls,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “It shows what a plus fastball, plus changeup can do. When he changes speeds like that you have to gear up for the velocity and then adjust when he changes speeds. He did a good job.”
Herrera gave up a walk in the eighth, but nothing else. Davis worked a spotless ninth, claiming his seventh save in as many opportunities. Yost said Davis finished because closer Greg Holland woke up with a stiff neck.
Mike Moustakas went 3 for 4 with two doubles and drove in two runs. His double in the fifth drove in one run and his seventh-inning double made it 3-0.
Infante, who had two hits, drove home the other run with a two-out single in the second.
Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto (3-4) allowed three runs and nine hits, while walking one and striking out four.
“They’re a good team. There are no excuses,” Cueto said through a translator. “I did what I had to do.”
In his four losses, the Reds have scored a total of two runs.
“I did my job and I expect the rest of the team to do their job,” Cueto said. “You want to have a little more run support but there’s nothing you can do.
DOUBLE THE FUN
The Royals collected three doubles bringing their major-league leading doubles total to 85.
FURCAL RETIRES
SS Rafael Furcal, who signed a minor league contract with the Royals in spring training, announced he is retiring after 14 seasons in the majors. He combined to hit .240 in seven games with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Single-A Wilmington. Furcal, 37, was the 2000 National League rookie of the year and an All-Star in 2003, 2010 and 2012. He retires with a .281 average, appearing in postseason play 10 times.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: LHP Manny Parra (strained neck) struck out all three Norfolk batters he faced to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. . DH Devin Mesoraco (left hip impingement) did some catching drills. He has not caught since April 12. . LHP Sean Marshall will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Wednesday. Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek will perform the procedure.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (flexor strain) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is penciled in for a simulated game Friday. … C Erik Kratz (torn left plantar fasciitis) will likely start a minor league rehab assignment at the end of the week.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Jason Marquis, who has given up 17 hits and 11 runs in 8 2-3 innings in losing his previou
The Royals, who beat the New York Yankees 6-0 on Sunday, had back-to-back shutouts for the first time since Sept. 29-30, 1992, when Dennis Rasmussen and Rick Reed blanked the California Angels.
The Reds have lost four straight, matching their longest streak of the season.
Ventura (3-3), who was 0-3 in his five previous starts since a victory on April 12, allowed four singles, struck out six and walked none. He reached a three-ball count on only four hitters and retired all of them, lowering his ERA to 4.56.
“This is the best I’ve felt this season,” Ventura said with teammate Christian Colon acting as his interpreter. “All my pitches were sharp. I was just focused on having my pitches down in the zone and having quality pitches.”
Ventura left his previous start with an index fingernail tear and that flared up again.
“I started to feel something in the sixth inning and Ned (Yost, manager) just told him let’s get your ready for the next start, let’s take you out of this one,” Ventura said.
Ventura retired 14 on ground balls.
“He went seven innings and got a lot of ground balls,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “It shows what a plus fastball, plus changeup can do. When he changes speeds like that you have to gear up for the velocity and then adjust when he changes speeds. He did a good job.”
Herrera gave up a walk in the eighth, but nothing else. Davis worked a spotless ninth, claiming his seventh save in as many opportunities. Yost said Davis finished because closer Greg Holland woke up with a stiff neck.
Mike Moustakas went 3 for 4 with two doubles and drove in two runs. His double in the fifth drove in one run and his seventh-inning double made it 3-0.
Infante, who had two hits, drove home the other run with a two-out single in the second.
Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto (3-4) allowed three runs and nine hits, while walking one and striking out four.
“They’re a good team. There are no excuses,” Cueto said through a translator. “I did what I had to do.”
In his four losses, the Reds have scored a total of two runs.
“I did my job and I expect the rest of the team to do their job,” Cueto said. “You want to have a little more run support but there’s nothing you can do.
DOUBLE THE FUN
The Royals collected three doubles bringing their major-league leading doubles total to 85.
FURCAL RETIRES
SS Rafael Furcal, who signed a minor league contract with the Royals in spring training, announced he is retiring after 14 seasons in the majors. He combined to hit .240 in seven games with Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Single-A Wilmington. Furcal, 37, was the 2000 National League rookie of the year and an All-Star in 2003, 2010 and 2012. He retires with a .281 average, appearing in postseason play 10 times.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: LHP Manny Parra (strained neck) struck out all three Norfolk batters he faced to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. . DH Devin Mesoraco (left hip impingement) did some catching drills. He has not caught since April 12. . LHP Sean Marshall will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Wednesday. Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek will perform the procedure.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (flexor strain) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is penciled in for a simulated game Friday. … C Erik Kratz (torn left plantar fasciitis) will likely start a minor league rehab assignment at the end of the week.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Jason Marquis, who has given up 17 hits and 11 runs in 8 2-3 innings in losing his previou
