How the Kansas City Royals provided some early fireworks against Tampa Bay Rays
The Kansas City Royals gave their announced crowd of 23,268 plenty to cheer about on a damp Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
After some pre-game rain, the Royals defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2. The Royals improved to 48-40 by winning the second game of the series on the day before the Fourth of July.
After leading 2-1 since the third inning, the Royals added valuable runs in the seventh. Team captain Salvador Perez doubled in two runs to put KC up 4-2.
The Rays answered with a run of their own in the eighth and looked primed for more off reliever Chris Stratton. But James McArthur was summoned and got the final five outs for the save.
“He just kept throwing strikes,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of McArthur. “That’s a lot to ask because once you get to two outs in the eighth — to keep yourself composed and go back out there. But if anyone can do it, its him.”
Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel made a fantastic catch while hitting the wall that prevented a potential Tampa Bay run in the top of the ninth.
“I was kind of surprised I hung onto it. I hit the wall pretty hard out there,” Isbel said. “I knew off the bat, I was going to have a shot at it. I was able to come down with it.”
Here’s how the rest of the game went down:
Impressive starting pitching
Both starting pitchers were impressive Wednesday.
Royals starter Michael Wacha allowed two hits and three walks in his outing. He threw 97 pitches and struck out eight. He allowed one earned run in six innings.
“He gives up a homer in the first and you look up later, just one run in six innings, its pretty impressive,” Quatraro said.
Rays starter Ryan Pepiot went four innings, allowing two earned runs and four hits. He walked three in 87 pitches.
It didn’t take long for the Rays to get on the scoreboard. Tampa Bay’s Isaac Paredes hit a solo homer in the first inning.
Two innings later, the Royals answered. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled to bring home Kyle Isbel. Then Vinnie Pasquantino singled to drive in Witt and put the Royals up 2-1.
Missed the start of the series?
Game 1: The Royals fought through a 2-hour-plus rain delay. Here’s how Game 1 vs. the Rays ended.
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to shine
Tell us if you’ve heard this before: Bobby Witt Jr. was the first player to drive in a run for the Royals.
Witt’s double in the third inning got the scoring started Wednesday night. And he didn’t stop there.
He finished 2-for-3 with a walk.
Up next for the Royals
The Royals finish their three-game series against the Rays at 7:10 p.m. Central on Thursday. Alec Marsh faces Tampa Bay’s Zach Eflin.
This story was originally published July 3, 2024 at 10:00 PM.
