Three troubling statistics as KC Royals are blanked by Pirates to start home stand

The Kansas City Royals returned home to Kauffman Stadium on Monday night. After a long nine-game road trip, the players arrived but the offense was left in baggage claim.

The Royals were silenced in a 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. KC recorded two hits — both singles — against Pirates starter Johan Oviedo. He tossed a complete game and picked up his eighth victory.

“Overall, we didn’t do anything,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We didn’t threaten him at all. It was, relatively speaking, an easy nine innings.”

Oviedo relied primarily on his four-seam fastball and slider to navigate the Royals’ lineup. He generated 15 called strikes and 11 whiffs in the game. He issued two walks and struck out five batters.

Royals duo MJ Melendez and Drew Waters had the lone hits. Meanwhile, Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes doubled their production.

Hayes finished 4 for 4 with an RBI double. The Pirates recorded 12 hits despite going 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

“We just came out flat today as a team,” Melendez said. “I think we could’ve hit (against Oviedo). Props to him for going all nine. I think it was a battle with ourselves today. We just didn’t play how we wanted to.”

Pittsburgh added three insurance runs in the late innings. Designated hitter Andrew McCutchen hit an RBI single in the seventh while first baseman Alfonso Rivas added an RBI double an inning later.

The Royals dropped to 41-92.

Missed any Royals coverage?

Injury update: Royals plan to skip Brady Singer’s next start due to arm fatigue

Hidden gem: Bobby Witt Jr. has special message written under helmet

Here are more notables from Monday’s game:

Zack Greinke goes 4 2/3 innings in start

Royals veteran Zack Greinke made his 23rd start on Monday. He returned to his familiar role after appearing in relief against the Oakland Athletics.

Greinke allowed six hits and two runs in his start. He also registered two strikeouts and two walks. In the fourth inning, Greinke was awarded a strikeout as Rivas was called out due to an automatic strike.

“It wasn’t a very sharp game pretty much,” Greinke said. “(The) stuff wasn’t that good. Just the game wasn’t that good all the way around.”

Three troubling statistics told the story of his day:

• The Royals have scored just 37 runs in Greinke’s appearances (119.1 innings) this season.

• They have supported Greinke with one or fewer runs in 14 of his 23 starts.
  
  

• Monday’s effort: two hits, two walks and no Royals player reaching scoring position.

“We just didn’t put too many good swings on (Oviedo),” Quatraro said.

Greinke fell to 1-13 this season.

What’s next: The Royals continue their three-game series against the Pirates. Cole Ragans, who owns a 2.08 ERA with the Royals, will draw the start.