Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
Fortunes have turned in a significant way for Lorenzo Cain and the Kansas City Royals during the month of June and into July just ahead of the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star break, which marks the half-way mark of the major league baseball season. After a slow start to the season that had many wondering if Cain may be on the trading block before the Tuesday, July 31 trade deadline, the Royals have put together a 22-12 record since the beginning of June. At this point, it seems unlikely Cain will be traded before the trade deadline. However, it still remains uncertain what his future with the Royals may be after the end of the season. Cain becomes a free agent in the fall.
A former Madison County High School Cowboy, Cain has been a factor in the recent Royals' success. On Wednesday, July 5, Cain went one-for-four at the plate with a two-run homer in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners. This home run tied the game at six runs apiece. The Royals went on to win the game 9-6, in 10 innings, to complete a two-game sweep of the Mariners.
Then on Saturday, July 8, Cain was ejected in the seventh inning of a game with the National League West leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The score was tied at three runs apiece and Cain at the plate with one out and the bases loaded. The pitch count was two balls and two strikes when home-plate umpire Bill Miller called the next pitch a strike, even though it appeared to be outside the plate. After reviewing the video in the dug-out, Cain came back out to question the umpire, leading to Cain's ejection. The Dodgers went on to win that game 5-4 in 10 innings.
The Royals finished the first half of the season dropping a three-game sweep to the Dodgers. After losing three games to the Dodgers, the Royals are in third place in the American League Central division, three games behind the division leading Cleveland Indians.
So far this season, Cain has 11 home runs to his credit with 30 RBIs. He also has 15 stolen bases. Cain's batting average is at .274, slightly below his career batting average of .286.