Rockies 13, Royals 2
At Surprise Stadium
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Nolan Arenado and Jordan Lyles battled for a imaginary “Player of the Game” award Thursday at Surprise Stadium. Against the Royals, when the Rockies jumped out to a 10-0 lead, it was a tight race.
But Lyles, who pitched a perfect four innings, ceded the prize.
“How many RBIs did he get? Two home runs? He can have it,” Lyles said. “I need my guys to hit home runs. They can have the ‘player of the game.'”
Arenado went 3-for-4 at the plate, knocking two home runs to left field off Royals starter Jason Vargas — a two-run shot in the first and a three-RBI blast in the second that landed past the grass berm. He finished with five RBIs.
“Today was a good day,” Arenado said. “I was just trying to see the ball over the plate. Vargas has a good changeup. Last year, he kinda carved me up. Luckily I got a couple pitches middle in to swing at.”
On occasion last season, it seemed like Arenado would swing at a bullfrog if it happened to hop into view. His aggressive approach drifted outside the zone at times. He’s honed his eye some this spring — he’s been the Rockies best hitter in the first half of the Cactus League schedule.
“There are a lot of things I still need to work on,” he said. “But I’m starting to see the off-speed better. And I’m just trying to be aggressive in the zone. Sometimes I’m ready to swing first pitch and I end up swinging at anything. That’s something I need to cut down and just swing at my pitches.”
Arenado, though, said he’ll continue to attack early in counts.
“I like to be ready to swing at first pitches, unless the situation or the game dictates not to,” he said. “But I’m ready to go. When I’m not ready to go, I get tentative. I’m not a guy who walks a lot. So I don’t plan on changing that much. I’m an aggressive hitter — that’s just who I am.”
Jordan Lyles pitches against the Royals at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz., on Thursday. (Lenny Ignelzi, The Associated Press)
Lyles, meanwhile, struck out two and forced five ground outs in going 12 up-12 down on the Royals and not allowing a baserunner. He was a master of his own MO. He threw a changeup and a cutter to force down contact.
“Every pitcher is going for ground balls. I just happened to be that way today,” Lyles said. “Fastball command was pretty good, maybe a little bit of deception, guys were hitting on top of the ball. That just lets you know you’re doing a decent job and guys aren’t seeing it as well.”
HITS
Rex Brothers threw another minimum half inning, closing down the ninth on three batters. He did the same two nights ago at Salt River Fields.
MISSES
Kraig Sitton allowed the Royals’ first hit, a home run in the fifth to Kendrys Morales, a solo shot.
WHAT’S NEXT
Jorge De La Rosa, pegged to start the Rockies’ home-opener April 10, will pitch Friday against Oakland’s Jesse Chavez at Salt River Fields at 2:10 p.m. MT. Eddie Butler, Tommy Kahnle and Scott Oberg are also scheduled to pitch.
Tags: Cactus League, Jordan Lyles, Kraig Sitton, Nolan Arenado, Rex Brothers
