Aug 23, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Yordano Ventura (30) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
MIAMI — Lorenzo Cain’s sixth-inning RBI single broke up a scoreless duel as the Kansas City Royals won their ninth game in a row with a 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at Marlins Park.
Paulo Orlando led off the sixth with a four-pitch walk. He stole second and scored when Cain drilled a 3-0 pitch to center.
Kansas City (65-60) has won 14 of its past 16 games. The Royals are one win away this weekend from winning their sixth straight series.
The Marlins (65-60), who entered Tuesday fresh off a road sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates, may have other concerns despite this loss.
Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna, a first-time All-Star this year who is hitting .277 with 21 doubles, five triples, 22 homers and 64 RBIs, left the game after seven innings due to a family emergency.
Ozuna’s exit happened shortly after he hit a leadoff double in the sixth but was stranded.
The Royals got outstanding pitching from starter Yordano Ventura (9-9), who struck out six in six innings, allowing six hits, one walk and no runs. The Royals have won the past five games he has started.
After Ventura exited with a 1-0 lead, the Royals bullpen went to work, getting scoreless innings from Matt Strahm, Joakim Soria and Kelvin Herrera, who picked up his eighth consecutive save.
Miami starter Andrew Cashner (4-10), who was acquired on July 31 in a trade with the San Diego Padres, has yet to earn a win with the Marlins. He pitched well, however, allowing four hits, two walks and one run in six innings, striking out four.
But Cashner got no run support as the Marlins, who are missing a combined 40 homers between injured sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour, couldn’t get the clutch hit they needed.
Miami’s biggest chance came in the third, when Ozuna had a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs. But Ozuna hit a fly out to right. The Marlins finished the game 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
This was the first game between Miami and Kansas City since the Marlins took two out of three from the Royals three years ago.
NOTES: Miami claimed OF Oswaldo Arcia off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays, moved 1B Justin Bour (ankle) to the 60-day disabled list retroactive to July 3, and put INF Derek Dietrich (knee) on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 19. … Arcia, 25, who was Miami’s only reserve left-handed hitter on Tuesday, is a native of Venezuela who is playing for his first NL team. He spent his first three years with the Minnesota Twins. This year, he has suited up for the Twins, Rays and Marlins. … Royals RHP Dillon Gee, who starts on Wednesday against Miami, is coming off his best start of the year, allowing just one run in seven innings. … The Marlins will counter with RHP Jose Fernandez, a slumping All-Star who has a 6.00 ERA since July 28 and has lost his past three decisions.
