KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On a cold and rainy night, Seth Lugo decided to turn on cruise control for a while.
Lugo pitched six strong innings, giving up two runs (one earned), and the Royals pounded out 11 hits enroute to an 8-2 series-opening win against the Orioles on Friday at Kauffman Stadium.
“I thought the mound held up great,” Lugo said. “I didn’t have any issues. I saw some guys later in the game that had to deal with that more than I did, but I don’t mind pitching when it’s like that.”
The Orioles scored twice in the second as Heston Kjerstad’s single scored Ryan O’Hearn, and Kjerstad later scored on a throwing error by Maikel Garcia. But two groundouts helped Lugo get out of the inning without further damage.
“I just stayed with my plan,” said Lugo, who finished with two strikeouts and a walk. “I gave up a couple runs but kept attacking guys.”
After the second inning, Lugo (1-0) settled down and retired the Orioles in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth as he mixed in more off-speed the second time through the lineup.
“It came down to the pitching and defense to keep us there,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Lugo really settled in and got really efficient through those middle innings.”
In his previous start against Cleveland, Lugo said he pitched too fine, as he gave up three runs and three walks in five innings. But this time Lugo remained aggressive throughout.
“I thought the adjustment to be made after my first start was to attack the hitters and fill up the zone and that’s what I did,” Lugo said. “I didn’t shy away from contact and got some weak contact.”
