Ragans again sharp, but Royals lose 2-1 on some questionable umpiring

Salvy exits the game with an injury.

The Royals managed just three hits in a pitcher’s duel, but it was some questionable ball/strike calls that led to four Chris Stratton walks in a 2-1 loss to the Mets Sunday afternoon.

After a pre-game ceremony honoring Mets great Dwight Gooden, starter José Buttó pitched like Doc, mowing down Royals hitters over six shutout innings. He allowed just two hits, while striking out nine. He was most effective with his changeup, which he threw 16 times, getting 11 swings and 6 whiffs.

But Cole Ragans matched him with goose eggs. He allowed a single to Brandon Nimmo, the first batter he faced, before retiring the next nine hitters in a row. He faced some trouble in the fourth when Starling Marte singled, and Francisco Lindor followed up with a hit that Hunter Renfroe bungled to put runners at second and third. But MJ Melendez picked up his teammates by throwing out Marte at the plate as he tried to score on a line out to left. It was a great throw by Melendez, but the play at the plate injured Salvador Perez and forced him to leave the game.

The Royals say Salvy suffered a left groin and hip injury and will be evaluated tomorrow.

Ragans also exited after six innings and 99 pitches with eight strikeouts and just one walk. It’s the 12th time in 16 starts with the Royals he has gone at least six innings.

The Mets threatened in the seventh off reliever John Schreiber, when Brett Baty and Nimmo singled. Schreiber walked Marte to load the bases and bring up star Francisco Lindor. But Lindor has gotten off to a tough start, and he hit a harmless pop foul that was caught by Vinnie Pasquantino to end the threat, as Schreiber marched off the mound fired up.

Chris Stratton would have less success however, although he had some room to disagree with the calls behind home plate. Pete Alonso walked to start the inning, then advanced to second on a sac bunt. Francisco Alvarez flied out for the second out, and Stratton seemed close to getting out of the inning.

But he threw three consecutive pitches to Jeff McNeil that all went to the same spot up and away - but only one was called a strike. Brett Baty walked to load the bases, then Harrison Bader chopped a weak grounder to third that Maikel Garcia had trouble with, allowing a run to score. Stratton again couldn’t get the calls behind the plate with Nimmo up, causing another walk to push home another run, making it 2-0 Mets.

Vinnie Pasquantino hit a solo home run in the ninth, his second homer of the year, which made the ball/strike calls in the eighth look even larger. Freddy Fermin popped out to end the game, giving the Mets the series and causing the Royals to fall to 10-6.

The Royals head to Chicago for a three-game road series against the White Sox beginning tomorrow night with Seth Lugo scheduled to face Erick Fedde.