Josh Rojas had a dizzying and dazzling Thursday for the Kansas City Royals.
His Friday should be significantly less hectic as the Royals look to build on their 8-6 win over the Minnesota Twins in the series opener on Thursday.
Game 2 of the four-game set will be Friday night in Minneapolis.
Rojas, a 31-year-old journeyman infielder with more than 2,000 at-bats in the big leagues, was playing a day game for Kansas City’s Triple-A affiliate (Omaha) on Thursday when he got word that the major league club was calling him up.
Rojas exited the visitors’ dugout in Columbus, Ohio, and prepared to fly to Minnesota for the Royals’ game the same evening against the Twins.
One problem: Rojas missed a late-afternoon flight to Minneapolis.
The next flight out was more than four hours later.
So Rojas waited. And waited.
By the time the plane took off from Columbus, the Royals already were playing the Twins. Rojas felt disappointed and thought he would have to miss the game.
An hourlong rain delay changed things — and gave Rojas a chance.
“This was a first,” he said. “I actually texted my buddies on the way (to the ballpark). When I landed, I saw that it was delayed. So I was like, ‘I might get into this game tonight.’
“It’ll be the first time I got into two separate games in two separate states. It was a good time.”
It was an especially good time because Rojas stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded and the score 6-6 in the top of the ninth. He delivered a two-run single up the middle that lifted the Royals to an 8-6 win.
Rojas said he did not have time to stress.
“Just show up, get loose in the cage and get ready for an at-bat,” he said with a smile.
Royals right-hander Michael Wacha (4-3, 3.23 ERA) will try to keep the good vibes going on Friday night.
Wacha is searching for his first victory since May 9 against the Detroit Tigers. In his most recent start Sunday, he took the loss against the Texas Rangers, 6-3, after allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings.
This will be Wacha’s 11th career start against the Twins. In his first 10 meetings (all starts), he is 6-1 with a 3.30 ERA and has 50 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings.
The Twins will counter with right-hander Zebby Matthews (1-3, 4.63), who is set to make his fifth start of the season. Matthews also is looking for a bounce-back performance after the Pittsburgh Pirates roughed him up for seven runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings Sunday. Minnesota lost 9-3.
Matthews has faced the Royals three times (all starts) in his career, going 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA.
Twins manager Derek Shelton said his players needed to improve after a sloppy series opener. Minnesota committed two errors.
“We have to play better defense,” Shelton said. “We cannot give away outs.”
–Field Level Media
