KANSAS CITY -- There are several struggling Royals hitters that are safe to pitch to these days. Eric Hosmer is not one of them.
The Indians on Friday pitched to Hosmer, who is on a nine-game hitting streak and is 15 for his last 34, in a key situation and paid the price. Hosmer hit a two-run homer -- Statcast™ estimated it traveled 458 feet -- in the Royals' tidy 3-1 win.
Here was the situation: The Indians were leading, 1-0, with two out in the fifth and Whit Merrifield on third.