Ventura lightens mood with bullpen session

KANSAS CITY -- While Royals setup man Wade Davis was struggling through the eighth inning against the White Sox on Saturday, Kauffman Stadium fans saw hot prospect Yordano Ventura throwing in the bullpen.

Was he warming up for a possible relief role? Not quite. Ventura was merely told to do a light side session in preparation for his scheduled starting assignment on Tuesday night against the Rays.

Unintentionally, Ventura's workout did accomplish something for Royals manager Ned Yost.

"When Ventura was throwing," Yost said, smiling, "at least somebody was up so the 25 fans that sit behind the dugout screaming at me all the time: 'Get somebody up!' -- I didn't have to hear 'em."