Dozier presents triple trouble on career night

KANSAS CITY -- An annoying case of back spasms earlier this week temporarily slowed the runaway offensive train that has become Royals infielder Hunter Dozier.

But Dozier was back smashing the ball Saturday night, posting his first two-triple game of his career and his first career four-hit game to go along with a career-high four RBIs in the Royals’ 9-4 win over the Angels.

Dozier, who is hitting .350, was 10-for-24 on the recent road trip, and didn’t play the final two games when back spasms forced him to rest. He had three doubles and four home runs on the trip. Dozier now is 15 for his last 33.

Does a game like Saturday night’s make Dozier’s back feel better?

“I think everything like that makes it feel better,” Dozier said. “It’s really getting better every day.

“It doesn’t bother me as much when I’m swinging. It’s more when I’m running.”

So stop hitting triples?

“No, never,” Dozier said with a smile.

Dozier certainly has the speed to leg out triples, though he can’t remember a game at any level in his life in which he had two triples.

“I just don’t think I’ve ever had two triples,” Dozier said. “I think about it each time I hit one in the gap.”

During the Royals’ six-run third inning, Dozier shot a two-run triple into the right-field corner.

After the Angels had sneaked within 7-4, Dozier came through with a two-out, two-run triple to left-center in the fifth.

“I’m seeing the ball well right now and keeping a simple approach,” Dozier said. “It was easy tonight because guys were having good at-bats in front of me and you just keep the line moving. It’s good all around.”

Dozier wasn’t the only offensive star for the Royals. Adalberto Mondesi had three hits, and Ryan O'Hearn and Jorge Soler had two hits each.

And manager Ned Yost’s much-maligned bullpen continues to pitch well lately, including tossing 5 1/3 innings of scoreless ball Saturday. Since April 15, the bullpen has a 3.12 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

"The bullpen was fantastic,” Yost said. “[Scott] Barlow, [Jake] Diekman with a great outing. [Ian] Kennedy with a great outing. Then Wily [Peralta] with a big outing. The cool thing about it is pretty much all those guys will be ready to go again [Sunday]."

Royals outfielder Billy Hamilton left the game in the sixth inning as a precaution because of a tight right hamstring. Yost didn’t seem too concerned about the injury after the game.