Dyson, Escobar propel Royals over Marlins

MIAMI -- The blazing speed of Jarrod Dyson is obvious, but it was the center fielder's leaping ability that took a possible home run away from Christian Yelich in the first inning on Thursday that served as a reminder the Royals can beat you in so many ways.
Dyson's catch, coupled with Alcides Escobar's home run, double and two runs scored provided the lift the Royals needed to defeat the Marlins, 5-2, and claim two of three at Marlins Park.
"It feels great," Dyson said. "It's the first one I've ever robbed in my career, so it's a pretty special moment for me."
The Marlins had a tough time recovering from Dyson's catch.
"It was a great play," Yelich said. "It [stinks] to be on the other side of it. You've got to hit to get it out of here."
• Escobar ends Interleague Play on high note

The Royals, winners of 10 of 11, did the little things better on Thursday, and they capitalized on Dee Strange-Gordon's throwing error in a two-run sixth inning that snapped a 2-2 tie. Gordon made a wild throw on Alex Gordon's broken-bat infield single, and Escobar delivered an RBI double off Tom Koehler that put Kansas City ahead to stay. Kendrys Morales added a sacrifice fly in the inning.
"That's a tough play. You're playing on the move, you're playing on the run," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Gordon's error. "Obviously, you don't want to [throw it away]. It's going to be a great play, if he makes it. If you don't, you don't expect it to end up [giving him] second base. To me, that's just a tough play."
• Second-half surge continues for Koehler

The game featured some great plays and some sloppy ones in the field. Dyson turned in one of the greatest catches since Marlins Park opened in 2012. In the first inning, he raced to the wall and robbed Yelich of a home run, but in the fourth, Miami scored two runs on third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert's throwing error, evening the score at 2.
The Marlins will be glad to close out playing the American League Central, where they went 3-10 on the season.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Early glove work: Dyson was able to make his spectacular catch in center because fences were brought in and lowered prior to the 2016 season in hopes of producing more runs. But Dyson robbed Yelich to end the first inning. Dyson leaped to pull in Yelich's blast, which according to Statcast™ traveled 414 feet with a 103-mph exit velocity at a 25.4-degree launch angle. Dyson covered 97.9 feet at a top speed of 19.8 mph.
"It was one of the best plays we've seen all year long," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I didn't think he could draw a beat on it and wasn't sure he caught it. I was totally amazed. That was a phenomenal play." More >

Put the ball in play, anything can happen: The Marlins weren't having much luck off Edinson Vólquez due to the Royals' stellar defense. But in the fourth inning, Miami cashed in on Cuthbert's error after he made a nice diving stop on Xavier Scruggs' grounder. When Cuthbert's throw bounced away from Eric Hosmer at first base, Marcell Ozuna scored easily from third and J.T. Realmuto, at second, raced home with the second unearned run, pulling Miami even at 2.
"They capitalized on mistakes we made today," Koehler said. "They made a few, and we got the two runs there, and there's some chances that we had. But games like today happen."

Perfect 'pen: The Royals' bullpen extended their club record consecutive scoreless-innings streak to 38 2/3. According to Elias, that's the longest such streak by a bullpen since the 2002-03 Giants combined for 39 1/3 innings. Chris Young, Matt Strahm, Joakim Soria and Kelvin Herrera combined for four scoreless frames.
"They've just been spectacular," Yost said of his bullpen."Strahm probably gets the gold star, getting us out of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and then getting through the seventh."

Squandered chances: The Marlins managed a couple of runs, but they certainly had their share of chances. A telling moment came in the third inning, when Miami was unable to cash in on the first of two errors committed by Cuthbert. After Scruggs' single, Adeiny Hechavarría tapped what could have been a double-play grounder, but Cuthbert threw the ball away. Miami had first and third with no outs, but Volquez worked out of it. Koehler dropped a sacrifice bunt, putting runners on second and third, but Gordon and Martín Prado each grounded out. At the time, Miami trailed 2-0.
"We had a few chances -- didn't have a ton -- but we had a few," Mattingly said. "We get the first-and-third there and don't score. It hurts us early. We didn't get a whole lot going after that."

QUOTABLE
"Well, that's history right there. I love being a part of history," -- Dyson, after being informed that he is the first player in Marlins Park history to rob someone of a homer
"They wanted to bring those fences down so people can rob homers. There you go, there's one." -- Koehler, on moving in the fences and Dyson making his catch on Yelich
Video: KC@MIA: Marlins' broadcast discuss Dyson's catch
NOTE OF CAUTION
As a precautionary measure, Royals catcher Salvador Perez was replaced behind the plate in the ninth inning by Drew Butera.
"He took one off his facemask the inning before and got a little light-headed," Yost said.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Jeff Francoeur, acquired from the Braves on Wednesday night, made his Marlins debut on Thursday. It came in a pinch-hit role in the sixth inning, and the 32-year-old outfielder reached on an infield single. More >

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW
The Royals won a review in the ninth inning on an out call at first base. Dyson was initially ruled out upon hitting a grounder to second base. After a quick 40-second review, the call was overturned.

WHAT'S NEXT
Royals:Ian Kennedy (8-9 3.58 ERA) takes the mound as the Royals open up a three-game series with the Red Sox at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday at Fenway Park. Kennedy has been red hot, allowing one run or fewer in each of his last five starts.
Marlins: Miami opens a three-game series against the Padres at 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday. David Phelps (7-6, 2.28 ERA) makes the start for Miami. San Diego counters with former Marlins right-hander Jarred Cosart (0-1, 4.54 ERA). Phelps is 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA in four starts since joining the rotation.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.