Scioscia Protests Angels' 7-5 Loss To Royals [VIDEO]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Manager Mike Scioscia is not ready to acknowledge his Los Angeles Angels lost Wednesday night.
Scioscia officially protested the Kansas City Royals' 7-5 victory, claiming Raul Mondesi ran inside the line on a bunt single in the seventh inning, which led to a throwing error and two runners scoring.
Scioscia said he is "100 percent" certain the protest would be upheld.
"It's not a judgement call," Scioscia said. "I would not have protested if I was not 100 percent correct on this. This is a misinterpretation of a rule. It was very clear. Phil Cuzzi, the home plate umpire, had Mondesi running inside the line in jeopardy the whole way, and stated that it's okay because he was stepping back toward the bag, which is wrong."
Matt Shoemaker, who did not allow a base runner until the fifth inning, yielded singles to Alex Gordon and Paulo Orlando to start the seventh. Mondesi, who was called up Tuesday, put down a bunt and beat the throw to first as the throw by Shoemaker (5-11) ricocheted off Mondesi and sailed into right field.
"The question wasn't if the throw impeded him or he impeded the throw," Scioscia said. "It wasn't if he was running inside. It's what I believe is his misinterpretation of the rule, given the guidelines that he gave me. There's no judgement involved. He admitted that (Mondesi) was inside the line. In Phil's head he wasn't in jeopardy because he was stepping toward the bag, which is wrong. That's the basis of the protest."
Both runners scored and Mondesi wound up on third. Jarrod Dyson rifled a triple to right, scoring Mondesi and making all the runs earned. Dyson scored on Alcides Escobar's sacrifice fly.
Shoemaker questioned whether he should have thrown to first.
"A bunt right back to me, he should be out," Shoemaker said. "But he was so quick he was going to be safe anyway. I should have held onto it."
After a 6 minute, 15 second review the call on the field was not changed.
Royals manager Ned Yost said there is no way the protest would be upheld.
"You can't protest a judgmental call," Yost said. "I've never protested a game. I've never been part of a game that was protested."
Mondesi added a run-scoring infield single in a two-run eighth. The second run scored on pitcher Jose Alvarerz's throwing error.
Joakim Soria (4-4) pitched a scoreless inning for the win after replacing left-hander Danny Duffy in the seventh. Duffy allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out five.
Shoemaker was charged with five runs on eight hits in six-plus innings.
Albert Pujols walked with the bases loaded with one out in the ninth and Andrelton Simmons singled in another run before Wade Davis struck out Jett Bandy to end the game.
Gordon and Orlando each contributed three hits. Orlando had two doubles and a fifth-inning RBI.
Jefry Marte had two doubles and a RBI for the Angels, while Johnny Giavotella had his second consecutive three-hit game.
ROYALS MEETING
With several Royals names surfacing in trade rumors, Yost addressed it in a team meeting. "These guys are a real, real close group," Yost said. "They know that this trade deadline (Monday) is bearing down on them. They don't want to see anybody leave that room. They want to see us all continue to stay together. That's adding a little bit of anxiety and urgency to their game. But sometimes it can be a little too much. They're trying to make things happen, instead of letting things develop. Just catch your breath."
OUTFIELD DEBUT
Gregorio Petit, who had only played the infield professionally, started in left field for the Angels. "We're trying to get another right-handed bat in there and get Greg some at-bats," Scioscia said. "He's been working out there for the last two months."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Shane Robinson (sprained right ankle) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Class-A Inland Empire in the California League.
Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (strained left hamstring) went 1 for 4 with a single and a strikeout while playing seven innings in right field.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Jered Weaver will start Thursday at Anaheim against the Red Sox, who will counter with LHP David Price.
Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura, who lost to the Rangers on Saturday, will face them again Thursday in the opener of a four-game series at Arlington. LHP Cole Hamels will be the Texas starter.
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