CLEVELAND -- The first nine pitches of Cole Ragans' start on Wednesday afternoon against the Guardians resulted in two strikeouts and the feeling like the Royals were going to get the good stuff from their lefty ace in the series finale at Progressive Field. The infielders behind him could sense it, and he felt it, too, saying it was “probably the best I’ve felt in a long time.”
The day ended with position player Tyler Tolbert on the mound in the Royals’ 10-2 loss and worry about Ragans’ left hand, which was hit by a 92.4 mph comebacker off the bat of José Ramírez in the bottom of the first inning. It led to Ragans’ exit after just two-thirds of an inning and 18 pitches.
The good news: It sounds like Ragans avoided the worst, diagnosed with a left thumb contusion and not suffering any fractures. He and the Royals are confident he’ll be OK moving forward.
“Just a little stiff, obviously, wore it directly off the hand,” Ragans said. “But, you know, should be good to go.”
The bad news: That stiffness meant Ragans lasted two batters after the comebacker, and it thrust the Royals into an unexpected bullpen game. Thanks to Luinder Avila’s three innings and Alex Lange’s 2 1/3 innings, it went smoothly enough, but the wheels fell off in the eighth inning when Steven Cruz loaded the bases with no outs and yielded a grand slam.
“It was a frustrating day all around on both sides of the ball, and we’re going to move on past it,” manager Matt Quatraro said.
Ragans looked dominant in the bottom of the first inning against Steven Kwan and Angel Martinez, striking them out looking on 96.4 mph and 97.6 mph fastballs, respectively. But when Ramírez’s ball hit Ragans, Quatraro and head athletic trainer Kyle Turner immediately came out to check on their pitcher.
After a lengthy visit that included Ragans throwing a few more warmup pitches, with one curveball sailing to the backstop, and Turner trying to massage Ragans’ thumb/palm area, Ragans briefly remained in the game in the hope of saving the bullpen. The Royals, who are approaching the end of a 12-game stretch without an off-day until Monday, will now have to evaluate the freshness of their 'pen ahead of the four-game series against the White Sox beginning Thursday.
“I want to be out there,” Ragans said. “I felt really good prior to that. Just want to keep going. I know we’re in a long stretch of games right here, so just trying to do as much as I can.”
Ragans threw five consecutive balls, walking David Fry and falling behind, 1-0, to Chase DeLauter. On the next pitch, Ragans got back in the strike zone, but DeLauter sent it to the center-field wall for a two-out, two-run double.
“He was numb, and we were thinking that the feeling would come back,” Quatraro said. “He said he didn’t have much pain, and then [the numbness] didn’t go away. Obviously, there was the walk, then the double, and then at that point, he’s shaking his hand after every pitch. So obviously, going to be as cautious as I can with him in that situation.”.
As Ragans entered the dugout, he chucked his glove at the bench, saying everything about how frustrating the first inning was Wednesday.
“One of those things where it’s probably the right thing to do,” Ragans said of exiting. “But I think all of us as competitors, we want to play every chance we get. Obviously aggravating for me, just because I felt so good prior to that, and then something like that happens.”
It was frustrating all around for the Royals, who dropped the series after winning Monday’s opener behind strong pitching and some positive offensive contributions.
That momentum did not follow them into the next two days.
The Royals struck out 28 times between the final two games of the series and went 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position. It’s hard not to let that creep into one’s head when they step to the plate, and adjustments must come quickly.
“Those at-bats have to get better, and the guys know that,” Quatraro said.
“It’s just getting a good plan at the plate,” added Bobby Witt Jr., who logged his first extra-base hit of the season with an RBI double. “Us as individuals, us as hitters, we’re more of a contact team, too. Apply pressure to other teams. Got to get back to doing that. When it’s time, the boppers and everyone will hit the homers when we need to. Just time to get back to playing our baseball.”