Royals' bullpen, defense display their talents
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ARLINGTON -- After starter Ian Kennedy's abbreviated and unspectacular outing, the Royals' bullpen held firm the rest of the way with six relievers each throwing a shutout inning and combining to hold the Rangers to only two hits in a 3-0 exhibition loss on Friday night at Globe Life Park.
Travis Wood, Mike Minor and Joakim Soria each fired 1-2-3 innings, while Chris Young, Matt Strahm and Kelvin Herrera threw imperfect, but effective frames, with the Rangers leaving eight men on base during their time on the mound.
All six will get the day off for Saturday's exhibition game against the Rangers so they can be fresh for Monday's season opener against the Twins at Target Field.
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"They held the fort, they didn't give up anything and they were fine," manager Ned Yost said. "They got their work in. That was their last tuneup before Opening Day, so they're ready to go."
Royals relievers got help with some flashy defense on Friday. In the fourth, with Young pitching, runners on the corners and two out, first baseman Eric Hosmer saved the inning with a leaping stab on Rougned Odor's line drive.
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In the seventh, left fielder Terrance Gore made an athletic diving catch to rob Travis Snider of extra bases.
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