Bailey Ober pounded again by Royals as Twins lose for only second time in eight tries

Source: The New York Times
Author: Dan Hayes

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Kansas City Royals continue to rough up Bailey Ober like nobody else.

For the second time this season and often throughout his career, Kansas City has hit the Minnesota Twins pitcher harder than every other team in the majors. The trend continued Wednesday night with hard contact aplenty as the Royals beat the Twins 6-1 in front of 18,130 at Target Field. Nelson Velázquez homered twice and Salvador Perez homered and doubled off Ober, who surrendered six earned runs and nine hits in five innings as the Twins lost for only the second time in eight tries.

"It's just something going on right now with those guys," Ober said. "Whenever I throw against them, it seems to go that way right now. ... It's frustrating. It sucks when you go out there, I mean, every time I go out there I'm expecting to be able to turn in a good outing and lately that hasn't turned out that way against those guys over there."

Outings like this one are nothing new for Ober when the opponents bear Kansas City across their chests. Earlier this season, Ober surrendered a career-worst eight earned runs to the Royals in a March 31 start in Missouri. During that game, Ober yielded three homers, which remains tied for the most he's allowed in a game, and nine hits overall while recording only four outs.

Though there was some hard contact, Ober posted zeroes in each of his first two innings pitched Wednesday. He wasn't as fortunate in the third.

Working with a cut-fastball-heavy approach, Ober carried a 1-0 lead into the third. But Kyle Isbel and Bobby Witt Jr. both singled, the latter driving in Isbel, who'd advanced to second on a groundout. Then Perez got enough of a cutter off the outside edge to double in a run and put Kansas City in front for good.

Ober appeared on his way out of trouble, inducing a pop out to shallow left and jumping ahead of Velázquez 1-2 in the count. But Velázquez worked the count full and Ober left a cutter over the middle, which resulted in a long, two-run homer and a three-run deficit.

Two innings later, Perez and Velázquez each tagged Ober for another homer, both solo shots.

"I think he wanted to work (the cutter) in a good amount, in the place of some of the four-seamers he would normally throw," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "The pitch was a little hit or miss. Even though he knew he wanted to throw it, he didn't have the best feel for it. ... I don't know if there's anything as a team. Again, it's not a start that you normally see from Bailey."

Unless it's the Royals.

In 59 starts against every other major-league team, Ober has a 3.37 ERA. Against Kansas City, Ober owns a 7.71 ERA in nine starts. Asked if he's learned why the Royals hit him well, Ober looked exasperated.

"It is what it is," Ober said. "I don't know. ... They're just on my fastball. Both outings, really. Tried to throw it a little bit less this outing. And then when I did throw it, they were still on it. Maybe there's something there, but they're just ready for that pitch right now."