Diamondbacks at Royals
The Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off a late comeback in the series opener but could not turn the trick two nights in a row as the host Kansas City Royals evened the series Saturday. Royals slugger Billy Butler has homered in each of the first two games and has hit in six straight games, giving the team just enough pop to overcome some of their recent pitching woes. The Diamondbacks have Chris Young back in the middle of the order and are hoping for their first series win this month.
While Kansas City has endured a series of injuries to its starting rotation, Arizona is wondering what has gone wrong with ace Ian Kennedy, who suffered his fourth straight loss Saturday. The right-hander was 21-4 in 2011. Joe Saunders, Patrick Corbin and Trevor Cahill have each been inconsistent this month. The Royals will try to get to the Diamondbacks’ most reliable starter, Wade Miley, in Sunday’s finale.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (4-1, 2.52 ERA) vs. Royals RH Nate Adcock (0-1, 2.51)
Miley has allowed one or no runs in three of his five starts, including a 6 2/3-inning effort at Los Angeles on Tuesday in which he surrendered one run on eight hits while striking out five. The 25-year-old has a 25-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in five starts and has allowed only two home runs in 39 1/3 total innings. Miley is 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA on the road this season.
Adcock was recalled Saturday to take the spot of Everett Teaford, who was placed on the disabled list with an abdominal strain. Adcock spent over two weeks with Kansas City in his last stint, allowing a total of four runs on 17 hits in 14 1/3 innings. The 24-year old was 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA in four starts for Triple-A Omaha.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Royals got good news Saturday on catcher Salvador Perez, who is about two weeks ahead of schedule in his rehab from knee surgery.
2. Young, who came off the disabled list and served as designated hitter Friday, returned to the field for the first time Saturday.
3. Butler has eight home runs through 39 games. His career high is 21 in 2009.