The Kansas City Royals picked up right where they left off in 2015 and defeated the New York Mets 4-3 on Opening Night at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals seem to have not lost a step, but the same cannot be said for the Mets.
Matt Harvey and Edinson Volquez squared off in the highly anticipated matchup, but it was Volquez that drastically outperformed the Dark Knight. New York got on base more times than Kansas City, but the Mets couldn't get anything going until the eighth inning, which was a bit too late.
It's only one game, and it was the first one of the 2016 MLB season for each team, but what can we take away from last night's matchup?
David Wright and Yoenis Cespedes need to lead by example
Both veterans combined to go 1-for-8 with two walks and four strikeouts last night, and both struck out in the top of the ninth with runners on first and third with a chance to tie the game. Wright was fanned on three pitches, and Cespedes swung at ball four to end the game.
Not only that, but Cespedes made another blunder in the field in the first inning, which opened the door for the Royals' first run of the night. Wright, although he wasn't charged with an error, allowed Omar Infante to reach on an infield single in the fifth and perhaps could have made a better play on the ball. The Mets got out of that inning, but Harvey faced pressure with runners on second and third before getting the final out.
The bottom of the Mets' lineup nearly staged a comeback in the ninth, but it was Wright and Cespedes who couldn't put the ball in play when it mattered most.
The Royals still won't go away
I've honestly never seen a team that capitalizes on every opportunity as effectively as the Royals. Cespedes' error in the first inning eventually turned into a run, and that was the difference-maker. Kansas City played great defense and managed to produce four runs with just 11 baserunners compared to the Mets' three runs with 13 baserunners.
Their aggressive approach at the plate got to Harvey early, and with the exception of newcomer Joakim Soria, the pitching staff did a tremendous job of shutting down the Mets. Volquez, Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar and Wade Davis combined for 8-1/3 shutout innings, zero earned runs and nine strikeouts.
Even Omar Infante, who was regarded as the worst offensive player in baseball last year, got on base two times and knocked in a run last night.
Matt Harvey needs to pitch like an ace this year
Harvey sought revenge last night after the Royals spoiled his shot at a complete game in Game 5 of the World Series, but the right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5-2/3 innings. Not quite ace-like stuff, which is what the Mets need from Harvey.
I'm not saying Harvey was supposed to come out tonight and blow away the World Series champs, but he was heavily outpitched by Volquez (6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB) and had only two innings when he didn't allow multiple baserunners.
The Dark Knight didn't come out as many expected him to, but that will need to change as the season progresses if the Mets want to make another deep postseason run.
