KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After clutch grand slams and dazzling four-run rallies earlier in the homestand, the Kansas City Royals faced a startling reality Sunday.
Not every predicament can be overcome and not everything is in their control.
Oh, there was opportunity for more heroics, but by the time the late innings rolled around, home plate umpire John Tumpane had dampened the festive mood surrounding the Royals.
His strike zone was tighter than, well, the cap on Sam Brownback’s pen, considering the governor signed the state budget on Sunday.
Tumpane’s eye was demanding enough that Peter Moylan got ejected for remarks made after the Royals reliever got pulled by manager Ned Yost from a 8-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.