Royals get World Series rings, then shut out by Mets
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - After raising a championship banner before their opener Sunday, the Kansas City Royals got their World Series rings in a pregame ceremony Tuesday.
New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard helped make sure the celebration ended there.
Syndergaard pitched six dominant innings and the Royals got just three hits in a 2-0 loss to the Mets.
New York fell victim to Kansas City in the 2015 World Series and had to relive those moments this week.
"I didn't feel for them at all," Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. "We were world champions last year, just enjoy that process. We've got our rings now, so the whole process is over now. So it's time to turn the page, move on and get better playing baseball and winning baseball."
Syndergaard allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one.
"He brought his A-game," Cain said. "He was locked in the entire game, hats off to him. He did a great job. He kept us off balance the entire game. We just couldn't figure him out. He was tough."
Royals manager Ned Yost heaped praises on Syndergaard.
"His stuff was absolutely spectacular," Yost said. "His stuff was unhittable."
Syndergaard (1-0) was the only pitcher to beat the Royals in the World Series last season, winning Game 3 after intentionally throwing his first pitch above Alcides Escobar's head. Escobar started this one with a triple, but then Syndergaard struck out the next three batters and retired 12 straight before Kendrys Morales' double opened the fifth.
Mets manager Terry Collins knew Syndergaard would not be intimated by the hostile surroundings.
"He's not afraid. He's 6-7, 250 pounds," Collins said. "They don't have much fear, those kind of guys."
Syndergaard pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, striking out Morales on three swings.
"He threw Morales a 95, 93 and 93 mph slider that there is not a man on this earth I believe could hit any of those pitches," Yost said. "I even asked George (Brett), 'Do you think you could even foul any of those off?' and he said, 'No way.'"
The Royals went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
The Mets acquired Neil Walker in a December trade with Pittsburgh, and he got his first homer off Chris Young (0-1) in the fourth after Yoenis Cespedes walked. That was the first hit Young allowed.
"I tried to throw a fastball away, behind in the count 1-0," Young said. "He put a good swing on it and that was the difference in the game. I got outpitched."
Young was pulled after five innings and 93 pitches, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out four.
The Mets loaded the bases in the seventh on two walks and a single, but Luke Hochevar retired Cespedes on a fly ball to Escobar to end the threat.
Jeurys Familia, who blew all three save opportunities he had in the 2015 World Series, pitched a spotless ninth for his first save this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: RHP Greg Holland had Tommy John surgery last September and remains unsigned as a free agent, but he was back for the pregame World Series ring ceremony. He said he is throwing 60 feet in Arizona and hopes to sign with a club soon, although it is unlikely he will pitch this season. RHP Jason Frasor and OF Alex Rios, former Royals who were members of the 2015 team, were invited to the ring ceremony and both attended.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura draws an assignment Friday against the Twins.