Twice this homestand, Royals starting pitcher Jakob Junis has left the mound after allowing just one run and striking out eight batters. Neither time has he factored into the decision.
But on Sunday, when Junis made it through six innings for the first time since June 20, it wasn’t because he departed a tied ballgame like he did at the beginning of the week in an eventual loss to the Cubs. Instead, it was because the Royals’ bullpen let him down in an 8-2 loss to the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium.
Leading 2-1 in the seventh inning, manager Ned Yost entrusted veteran pitcher Jason Hammel to maneuver the bottom third of the Cardinals lineup.