And… Exhale! The Royals improved their record to 13-11 with a relatively stress free  4-1 victory. Royals fans were treated to a rising of the bats as they were able to avoid the sweep and break their miserable 5 game losing streak. The Royals we all recognize and love came back from the dead and looked liked a living breathing baseball team. They won in typical Royals fashion as Ian Kennedy turned in an effective start going five innings only allowing one run on four hits. He also fanned 6 batters as he help cool down the Mariners. The bullpen was nails as Duffy, Soria, Herrera held down innings 6-8. Wade Davis converted his eighth save in eight chances to slam the door in the ninth. The defense was flawless. Jarrod Dyson saved a run by tossing a missile to nail Robinson Cano at home to end the sixth inning. Last but not least the Royals got timely hitting from their guys. Omar Infante drove in Gordon in the second inning to break the scoreless inning streak. Cain also drove in a run and added 2 hits. An error by the Mariners Katel Marte helped the Royals score their third run and Hosmer connected for his 4th home run and the fourth run of the game. Everything was working.

   The one thing I took away from the performance was not the offense. Rather the outstanding performance of one Danny Duffy. Ned brought him in with the bases juiced and no outs. Before, Duffy was put in low stress situations. Either up ahead by multiple by runs or down multiple runs. It seemed like Ned was trying to build Duffy’s confidence and he definitely repaid Yost for his confidence in him. He struck out two batters and was able to Houdini his way out of the sixth inning with only one run that was charged to Kennedy. He got some help from his boy in right field for the third out but make no mistake, Duffy showed proved today and that has to do wonders for a guy that has been criticized for his mental makeup over his six years in the big leagues.

   The road trip is mercifully over as our boys in blue come home for a quick three game series against (in my opinion) the best player in the game in Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals. At 17-7, the Nationals are in first place and will prove to be a tough test. You have to admit though, that getting this win today makes this upcoming series a lot easier to watch. As a fan you go from being hopeful for a win to now confident that our team is back on track. We’ll be just fine.