Colorado Rockies vs Kansas City Royals Match Player Stats On Aug 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 24, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pat Valaika homered in the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies came from behind to down the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday afternoon.

Valaika homered with two outs with Gerardo Parra aboard off left-hander Mike Minor. That snapped a four-game Rockies' losing streak.

Greg Holland, who blew a save Wednesday when he allowed a three-run walk-off home run to former teammate Eric Hosmer, logged his 36th save in 40 chances with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Whit Merrifield homered, his 15th, to lead off the Kansas City first. It was Merrifield's third career leadoff homer.

Brandon Moss hit his 17th home run to lead off the second. Moss hit German Marquez's first pitch out to right. But that was it for the Royals' scoring.

Jake Junis gave up a single to Parra and a double down the right-field line to Carlos Gonzalez on a 2-2 pitch to start the Rockies' sixth. After Valaika popped up to shortstop Alcides Escobar, manager Ned Yost summoned left-hander Scott Alexander from the bullpen to face left-handed hitting Raimel Tapia.

Tapia drilled a RBI single to left, scoring Parra and moving Gonzalez to third. On Alexander's next pitch, Trevor Story grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Junis gave up one run on seven hits, walked one and struck out seven, matching his career best, in 5 1/3 innings.

Junis had a moment of truth in the fifth inning when No. 9 hitter Tony Wolters walked and Charlie Blackmon singled with one out. Junis struck out DJ LeMahieu and retired Nolan Arenado, who had singled in his first two at-bats, on a fielder's choice grounder to third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert.

NOTES: Royals 3B Mike Moustakas was held out of the lineup with a tender knee. He was used as a pinch hitter in the ninth and flied out to Charlie Blackmon in center. Manager Ned Yost said it is not serious and Moustakas would play Friday. Cheslor Cuthbert replaced him at third. ... The Rockies will continue this two-city trip with three games in Atlanta. Braves RHP Julio Teheran and Colorado RHP Chad Bettis are the Friday probables. ... The Royals will play a weekend series at Cleveland, which leads the American League Central. Kansas City LHP Jason Vargas and Indians LHP Ryan Merritt are the Friday starters.