Royals' Cueto dominates Tigers with complete-game shutout in home debut
Johnny Cueto pitched well enough to win his first two starts with the Kansas City Royals, and all he had was a losing record to show for it.
It turns out he was saving his best for home.
The right-hander turned in his finest performance yet Monday since joining the Royals, navigating his way through a scuffling Detroit Tigers lineup with a masterful complete-game shutout in his home debut at Kauffman Stadium.
Cueto, acquired from Cincinnati just before the trade deadline, kept the Tigers off balance by changing deliveries and pitching with exceptional control during the 4-0 victory. He scattered just four hits, struck out eight, and issued no walks, while firing 86 strikes in the dazzling 116-pitch outing.
"The crowd really gave me an extra boost," Cueto said through his interpreter after the game. "This is the most I've felt from a crowd; the intensity is by far the most."
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Cueto, who was still throwing in the mid-90s during the ninth, retired the final six batters he faced before walking off the mound to his second standing ovation in as many innings. He told reporters after the game that the crowd's reaction following the eighth prompted him to ask manager Ned Yost if he could pitch the ninth for the fans.
"A bunch of us were saying in the eighth inning just watch how loud this gets when he goes out for the ninth inning," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "It was really cool to see and fun to be a part of it."
| Date | IP | H | R | BB | SO | Rslt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10 | 9.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | W4-0 |
| Aug 5 | 7.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | L-2-1 |
| Jul 31 | 6.0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 | L7-6 |
The 2014 All-Star threw to solid results in each of his first two starts with the Royals, allowing five runs with nine strikeouts over 13 innings. He entered Monday's outing with an 0-2 career record and 2.08 ERA at Kauffman Stadium.
Cueto's battery mate, Salvador Perez, celebrated the masterpiece by dousing the pitcher with Gatorade during his postgame interview.
#CuetoDayAtTheK pic via Chris Vleisides pic.twitter.com/fcxVprMH0m
— Brad Zollars (@BDZRoyals) August 11, 2015
Monday's effort was Cueto's second shutout of the season and sixth of his career. He's the first pitcher to throw a shutout in both leagues in the same season since Cliff Lee in 2009, according to ESPN Stats & Info, and the second pitcher in Royals history with a shutout in his home debut (Eric Rasmussen, 1983).