Reddick's 3-run homer sends A's to 5-0 victory over Royals

Ventura ejected for pitch that hit Lawrie

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura (30) delivers to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, April 18, 2015.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura (30) delivers to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, April 18, 2015.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Josh Reddick rounded the bases after his three-run homer, celebrated in Oakland's dugout for just a moment, and then climbed to the top step and waited.

He knew exactly what was coming next.

Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura promptly plunked A's third baseman Brett Lawrie with what appeared to be a retaliatory pitch for an incident the previous night, and Reddick and the rest of his teammates spilled onto the field in what could have turned into an ugly melee.

Cooler heads prevailed. So did the A's, who went on to beat Kansas City 5-0 Saturday night.

"We knew it was coming," Reddick said of the pitch that got Ventura ejected in the fourth inning. "It's bush league. There's no need for it."

Stephen Vogt and former Royals designated hitter Billy Butler also drove in a run for Oakland during the five-run fourth inning, and Jesse Hahn (1-1) scattered three hits and a walk over 5 1-3 innings before leaving with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Jesse Chavez then picked him up with 3 2-3 innings for the save, completing the fifth shutout by Oakland in its first 12 games. The A's have outscored their opponents 47-1 in six victories.

"Never get tired of shutouts," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.

Tempers were still hot from the series opener Friday night, when Lawrie slid hard and late into second base and wiped out Alcides Escobar. The Royals shortstop sprained his left knee in the collision, and said before Saturday night's game he thought the slide was dirty.

Ventura waited until he was pounded in the fourth before exacting some revenge.

After serving up Reddick's homer to right field, the hard-throwing youngster plunked Lawrie in the left elbow. Plate umpire Jim Joyce immediately tossed Ventura from the game, and the rest of the umpire crew moved quickly to prevent a more heated confrontation between the teams.

Lawrie calmly walked to first base and waited for the furor to die down.

"I didn't want to have any problems," said Lawrie, who apologized to Escobar in a text that apparently was not well received. "You can't control what happens on the other side."

When asked whether Ventura expected to be suspended, fellow pitcher Jeremy Guthrie - serving as a translator - replied: "I don't think we need to answer that."

The five-run fourth by Oakland and Ventura's ejection only made a miserable day worse for Kansas City. All-Star closer Greg Holland was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to the game with a strained right pectoral muscle that has been bothering him for the last week.

Holland already has four saves, and has not allowed a hit in four scoreless innings.

Yohan Pino was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take Holland's place on the roster. He threw 4 2-3 innings of three-hit ball after Ventura was tossed from the game.

"I thought Pino threw the ball great," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He came in the fourth inning and got us through the eighth and gave us a nice chance to preserve the bullpen."

ACE DEPATURES

Ventura still has not left a game in what would be considered standard fare. He was forced out of his first start of the season with a cramp in his right thumb, and left his next start with a cramp in his right calf.

"Up until the ejection was able to stay in the game without having problems with the cramping," he said. "Those were the two things that were important for me."

BUTLER STREAKING

Kansas City might end up regretting its decision to decline a $12.5 million option on Butler for this season. His run-scoring single in the fourth extended his hit streak to 12 games, the first A's player with that long of a streak to begin their career with the organization.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker (Tommy John surgery) threw 33 pitches in an extended spring game Saturday. He plans to go four innings his next time out, possibly in a minor league game.

Royals: Escobar remains day to day. Orlando Calixte was recalled from Omaha and OF Reymond Fuentes optioned to the same club to provide infield depth while Escobar is out.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Scott Kazmir (2-0) has struck out eight or more batters in each of his first two starts. He allowed one run over six innings in a win Monday in Houston.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (1-0) is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his career against Oakland.

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