Hosmer, Bonifacio welcome additions for KC

July 21st, 2017

KANSAS CITY -- and weren't even supposed to play on Friday night.
But Hosmer nearly helped win the game in the ninth inning with a huge stolen base. Bonifacio, nursing a bruised foot, then was instrumental in the game-winning rally in the 10th by drawing an important pinch-hit walk that contributed to the Royals' thrilling 7-6 walk-off win in 10 innings over the White Sox.

Hosmer had flown out of town on Friday morning to tend to a family matter. But he let the Royals know there was a chance he would be back by game time. He indeed made it, though he wasn't in the starting lineup.
Hosmer entered the game as a pinch-hitter for in the fourth inning, striking out with a runner on second. But Hosmer remained in the game.
"He got here just a little bit before game time," manager Ned Yost said. "He got a little something to eat and got himself ready. I told him, 'Look, just be watching. We get into a situation where we get some runners on and Torres is coming up, I'm going to definitely insert you in that spot.' It was great to have him back."
It was a hectic day for Hosmer, to say the least.
"My goal was to be gone for one day," Hosmer said. "If you go on bereavement list it's a couple days. We were going to be a guy short if I didn't make it back. I realized it was Friday night and a lot of traffic. Luckily I made it through. Good way to end the day with a 'W.'"
Hosmer led off the ninth with a single and two outs later, he stole second base. But after a walk to , Mike Moustakas flied out on a 3-0 pitch, ending the threat.
"We try to be aggressive and take the extra base where a hit wins it," Hosmer said of his steal. "That's how we've played over the years. Take the risk."
Added Yost, "Yeah, that was big. We didn't capitalize on it. I wish we could have. Moose had a great swing at a 3-0 pitch. Just missed it. [Hosmer] put us in a position to win the ballgame in the ninth."

The Royals won it in the 10th after and led off with singles. Yost, who had wanted to give Bonifacio a full night off with the sore foot he sustained on a foul ball on Thursday, pinch-hit Bonifacio.
Bonifacio fell behind 0-2, but he laid off two high pitches. Then, White Sox reliever unleashed a wild pitch, moving the runners up and the count full. Bonifacio fouled another pitch off before taking ball four, loading the bases and setting up a walk-off sacrifice fly from Whit Merrifield.
"Boni with a great at-bat," Yost said. "After the wild pitch, looking for something to elevate, he didn't bite on anything down in the zone."