Sep 13, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE — Kansas City Royals right hander Johnny Cueto is in the midst of a horrid stretch, as he dropped his fifth consecutive start Sunday night at Camden Yards.
Cueto was roughed up for eight runs — a season-high seven of them earned — on 11 hits over 6 1/3 innings as the Royals fell 8-2 to the Baltimore Orioles.
His ERA over his past five outings is 9.57, and Cueto (2-6 with the Royals) equaled his career high with four home runs allowed Sunday.
Manager Ned Yost said Cueto is relying too much on his secondary pitches rather than his fastball.
“What he needs to do, in my estimation right now, is just go out and establish his fastball and pitch off his fastball,” Yost said. “He needs to get more comfortable again pitching aggressively in with that fastball.”
Cueto, who never lost even four straight before the current stretch, said through an interpreter: “When things go bad like this, everybody looks and at the negatives, and what’s going to happen is I’m going to keep my head up and keep moving forward and keep fighting through this.”
He pitched on six days’ rest Sunday, but Yost is not inclined to have him skip a start. For his part, Cueto says he is healthy.
“I can’t jump in his body and see how he feels,” Yost said. “All I can do is go by what he says, and he says he feels great. Really lobbied to go back out in seventh inning. If you’re not feeling good, you’re not doing that.”
Yost said he doesn’t anticipate this rough stretch lingering. Nor does Cueto.
“I’m going to continue to do what I’ve always done, and that’s work hard, try to finish the season strong, and when the bell rings in the playoffs, I’m going to be there for this club,” Cueto said.
