Jokers Not Amused By Royals Offense

The Royals are heating up with the summer, winning their 5th straight - this time against the first place Jokers 17-4.  While close for the first 3 innings, the boys in Columbia blue put up crooked numbers in the final 4 frames to cement the victory.

On offense, Alex Uy was on fire, going a perfect 5 for 5 with a double and a walk while raising his batting average to .615!  Continuing in the tradition of a different hero every week, Gio Smith had 3 hits, 2 runs and a stolen base, and 5 other Roylas had at least 2 hits.  9 different players scored a run, with Uy (4) and Jake Romo (3) leading the scoring.  Uy and Romo each knocked in 4, while Gabe Sgambati knocked in 3.  Romo also led the team with 2 stolen bases.

Kyle Tanaka got the start and threw a CG for the win.  He scattered 10 hits and 1 walk over 7 innings, striking out 8.  The defense was solid all day, with shout outs to Jake Romo (turning a line drive to third into a double play) and Andrew Miller (making a few great plays at second before catching a rocket in center field in the last inning.)  Unfortunately, the game ended on a controversial double play that saw one runner called out for running out of the baseline between second and third (field umpire judgement call), and another runner called out after diverting his running lane and running into the catcher during a run-down (which could have easily been called obstruction, but was a plate umpire judgement call.)  Fortunately, the score was pretty lopsided at that point,so the calls didn't impact the outcome.

Next week, the Royals play a doubleheader against the Threshers, 9:45am and 1:45pm at Verdugo High School.