When the parade of relievers was done, and the score was finally out of reach, Royals manager Ned Yost climbed the stairs of the first base dugout and trudged toward the mound once more. His pace was quick but deliberate. His eyes shifted down for a second and then back up. As he reached the mound, a scatter of boos echoed throughout Kauffman Stadium.
It was the top of the sixth inning on Monday night, and already, Yost had made this journey three times. In this instant, it was right-hander Chris Young who was handing the ball back to Yost and walking back to the dugout.