KANSAS CITY -- Freddy Fermin caught 12 innings of a tight pitchers’ duel Friday, a physically exhausting task on top of the mental toll it takes to guide six pitchers through a marathon game that could go sideways at any moment.
But he thinks he was more tired from the postgame celebration he caused Friday night, his RBI single in the 12th inning handing the Royals a 2-1 win over the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium -- their seventh consecutive victory and their 16th in their past 18 games.
“I got tired because I was so happy celebrating,” Fermin said, a grin still on his face after his fourth career walk-off RBI.
But then Fermin paused.
“And then after that, just come back in here and get back to work,” he added. “It’s another day tomorrow.”
That’s the mentality the Royals love -- and rally around -- from their backup catcher who has become their starting catcher over the past week with Salvador Perez still dealing with left hip soreness.
The Royals pitching staff has been excellent this season, and Friday was no different. Six pitchers combined to hold the Red Sox to one run, striking out 10 with no walks in 12 innings.
It started with Michael Lorenzen’s seven shutout innings, giving the Royals their third consecutive start with seven scoreless innings after outings from Michael Wacha and Kris Bubic on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
It was just the third time in franchise history that has been done by a trio of Royals. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the first came from Aug. 23-25, 1974, when Nellie Briles, Al Fitzmorris and Bruce Dal Canton did so, and the other from June 21-23, 1989 (Bret Saberhagen, Luis Aquino and Mark Gubicza).
“The pitchers, man, up and down,” Vinnie Pasquantino said. “… Those guys were unbelievable. They won us the game.”
Lorenzen’s changeup was filthy on Friday, with 11 whiffs on 15 swings (73%). He struck out seven and worked around three hits and a hit batter.
But he left in an 0-0 game. John Schreiber, Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estévez all held the Red Sox quiet until Daniel Lynch IV allowed the game’s first run in the 11th inning.
“There’s no room for error, right?” manager Matt Quatraro said. “Those guys pitched exceptionally well.”
The Royals came right back to tie it on Pasquantino’s RBI single in the bottom of the frame, and Lynch recorded the first out of the 12th before Steven Cruz took over.
Cruz’s final two outs eventually earned him his first career win while extending his scoreless streak to 18 1/3 innings dating back to Sept. 27, 2023.
In the bottom of the 12th, Cavan Biggio sacrifice bunted automatic runner Michael Massey over to third base by staying on a sinker that nearly hit Biggio in the face.
“It was kind of which team was going to blink first tonight,” Biggio said. “I had to keep my face in there, and he ran a sinker up and in. Put the bat up in self defense, was willing to die and got it down.”
Fermin has been in these situations before, and he knows exactly what he has to do: Just put the ball in play. Fresh on his mind was his strikeout to Aroldis Chapman in the 10th on three bunt attempts -- a tough assignment off the power lefty.
“I felt like I had another chance coming,” Fermin said.
Fermin lined a cutter out to left-center field for the game-winner. His team mobbed him at first base. The still-packed Kauffman Stadium crowd chanted “Freddy.”
That’s when Fermin allowed himself to take in the moment.
“Stay focused,” Fermin said. “Late game, the pressure is coming. Adrenaline -- everybody wants to do something. But the most important thing is to stay calm. Like our pitchers did out there. And I think for me, that’s the most important. Stay calm and continue rolling this.”
The Royals are rolling, and it’s in large part because of their pitchers. So no one was happier to see Fermin notch the game-winner Friday than the players who trust him behind the plate.
“He is a solid foundation to this team,” Lorenzen said. “He shows up every day, ready to work. His mentality is incredible. It’s one of the best I’ve worked with. Super humble -- he’ll never tell you how good he actually is. But that’s why you have me to be able to tell you: He’s a freak. And he’s good. And I love the way he approaches the game.
“... He came through once again for us. Like he always does.”