Nightengale: Royals launch pennant defense with vigor
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals, with those gorgeous new rings in their locker and the American League pennant flying proudly in left field Monday, let the Chicago White Sox and the rest of the Central division in on a little secret.
The boys are back.
They're not going away.
Oh, and if you dare try messing with them, be prepared for a rude awakening.
"No one is going to intimidate us,'' Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson told Paste BN Sports. "It's not going to work.
"They tried it. It was like they were trying to take us out of the game. And it was unprofessional. But when you do stuff like that, it lets us know that we're getting to you.
"Just look what happened.''
The Royals, livid when White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija hit center fielder Lorenzo Cain with a pitch that appeared intentional, retaliated in their own style.
They smacked the daylights out of the White Sox, winning 10-1 in their season opener and letting the AL know they intend to be back in the thick of it.
"We love to prove everybody wrong again,'' Dyson says. "Let everybody else talk. We don't worry about it, man. It just adds fuel to the fire."
The Royals were incensed, then bemused, believing the White Sox had the gall to test their moxie.
Samardzija, after giving up a home run to Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas in the fifth inning, the first opposite-field homer of his career, fired his next pitch into the left elbow of Cain. He grimaced in pain and stared at Samardzija, wondering if he hit him on purpose. Samardzija looked right back at him and made a gesture, telling him to get to first base.
"I just hit him,'' Samardzija said. "He probably didn't feel good. So he didn't like it.
"Big guys play ball. No big deal.''
Well, except for the fact that every soul in the Royals' clubhouse believed it was done intentionally, particularly the only man that counts — Cain.
"When he hit me, I gave him a look,'' Cain said. "I wasn't sure if he hit me on purpose or not. But once he told me to get down, I'm sure he hit me on purpose. Straight to the point, he hit me on purpose.
"Beating them the way we did, it definitely makes up for it.''
Perhaps most symbolic was the way the Royals reacted. When Cain was hit, the Royals, particularly Moustakas, screamed obscenities at Samardzija. When he told Cain to move along, and Cain yelled back, the players climbed over the dugout railing, stood on the dirt, and waited for the first move.
If Cain started charging toward Samardzija, Cain's teammates let him know were right behind him, ready to fight for the cause.
"It was just looking out for each other,'' Moustakas said. "Everybody felt the same way. It didn't look right.''
Crew chief Jerry Layne calmed the moment, issuing warnings, but the point was made.
The Royals are all grown up.
The days of being bullied are over, ending on center stage last October at this same venue, coming within two runs of a World Series title in a classic Game 7.
"There's a noticeable level of increase in confidence since we came to spring training,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said. "You know, these kids always thought that they were good, and they finally believed it last year in the playoffs.
"They know now that they can stand up under the most extreme pressure, and the brightest lights, in stadiums packed with rabid fans, and be successful and productive.
"They don't have to wonder if they can do it anymore.
"They know they can do it.''
The Royals, who had gone 29 years without reaching the postseason, perhaps may be even better. The two new guys to the lineup, Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales, had spectacular debuts. Rios had three hits and hit a three-run homer, his first in 160 at-bats. Morales became the first Royal to walk three times on opening day since Bo Jackson in 1990.
Moustakas, who finally started living up to his promise last October when he hit five home runs, hit another homer, scored two runs and dropped down a sacrifice bunt in his new role as the No. 2 hitter.
All the Royals' 2014 hallmarks were intact: They played spectacular defense, stole two bases, and had another flawless bullpen performance.
And there was Yordano Ventura, 23, the Royals' youngest opening-day starter in 42 years, looking like a true No. 1. He dominated the White Sox for six innings, yielding just four hits, until leaving with a right thumb cramp that had him screaming in pain, taking away the organization's collective breath.
"I thought, 'Oh, my God,''' Moustakas said. "It was kind of a shock.''
It turned out that Ventura will be just fine, and for the Royals, they could be in for an encore.
"We accomplished something special,'' Dyson said. "Now, with the confidence we have in here, it's at the rooftop.
"We ain't going to worry about where people think we'll end up at. It's all about what we believe we'll end up at. And we believe we'll be back.
"We're going to try to win a new ring, baby. Only this time, a bigger one.''
GALLERY: Opening day around the majors