Actually, the turnaround coincided with the day the Royals traded for Johnny Cueto, a pitcher that Ventura admires greatly: Ventura got the win with seven innings of one-run ball on July 26 as Kansas City beat Houston, 5-1.
Since the Cueto trade -- and Cueto's locker is next to those of Edinson Volquez and Ventura -- Ventura is 5-0 with two no-decisions. And over Ventura's past four starts, he has thrown 25 innings and given up 15 hits with 12 walks and 32 strikeouts. His ERA in that span is 1.08.
"I believe Johnny has had an impact on Ventura in the last three or four starts," Royals manager Ned Yost said.