Duffy labors before ejection in loss to Cards

Duffy ejected in the 6th inning KANSAS CITY -- Danny Duffy was ejected for the second time this season on Saturday night, but his outing was likely already at an end.

Duffy allowed six runs in 5 1/3 innings in the Royals' 8-3 loss to the Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium, as the left-hander's start ended with Harrison Bader's two-run homer and Duffy's subsequent ejection by first-base umpire Adam Hamari.

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Bader's blast came on a 3-2 slider from Duffy during a nine-pitch at-bat. With the count at 1-2, Duffy thought he got Bader swinging for strike three, but Hamari ruled Bader checked his swing on a pitch outside of the strike zone.

That was the knockout blow for Duffy, but…