KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals youngster Yordano Ventura took the mound with some writing in chalk on his hat for Game 6 of the World Series against the Giants.
RIP
OT
#18
The message was to honor 22-year-old St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, a friend of Ventura's who was killed in a car crash Sunday in the Dominican Republic.
"I know him very well," Ventura said of Taveras. "I played against him in the minor leagues. When we would play against each other, we'd go over to each other's houses and hang out during the minor league season. I consider myself a friend of his, and my thoughts are with the family and of all of those who know him. It's a very difficult time. And such is life, things like this happen."
Ventura, like Taveras, is from the Dominican Republic and obviously had his fallen friend in mind when he took the ball in Game 6. And he spun an outing that would have made Taveras proud.
"He's very proud to be a Dominican and that's why he brought the flag," Ventura's translator said after the game, with a smiling Ventura sitting there after having draped a Dominican Republic flag over the interview table. "He wears his heart on his sleeve and he said that the moment he found out about Oscar, he said this game was going to be dedicated to him. He prepared mentally and physically for this outing."
Getting unbelievable run support from his teammates -- and good defense, as usual -- Ventura worked seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while striking out four. He did walk five, but some of that was a function of pitching around the strengths of the patient Giants hitters. He also got deep enough into the game that the Royals didn't need to think about using Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis or Greg Holland, a huge plus heading into Game 7.
"With all these emotions," Eric Hosmer said, "he stayed on the attack all game and really had a great outing."
What did his manager think?
"Awesome," said Ned Yost after the game. "I don't really know what more to say. You've got a 23-year-old kid pitching the biggest game that this stadium has seen in 29 years with our backs against the wall, and he goes out there in complete command of his emotions with great stuff and throws seven shutout innings. We've talked all along about how special he is, but this just shows, you can't be on a bigger stage than he was tonight. To perform the way he did was just special."
So in two starts during his first World Series at age 23, Ventura now has a 1.45 ERA. He also dominated the Angels in Game 2 of the ALDS and has shown Ace (Ventura, so naturally) stuff on many occasions throughout the season.
"I don't see why he shouldn't [be considered an ace],"
He came up aces again in Game 6, helping push his team to Game 7 of the World Series, all the while doing so in honor of his friend. Big night for the kid who is growing up before our very eyes.
