Astros ruin memorable game by Nicky Lopez by topping Royals 6-3 in extra innings
Royals manager Mike Matheny delivered a message to his team following a 6-3 loss Thursday to the AL West-leading Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium.
“I made my way through the clubhouse, made sure to let the guys know that’s a great series they played,” Matheny said after the Astros narrowly avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Royals.
Still, the Royals, 52-68, can take solace in winning the series against a team with the second-best record in the American League.
Houston rallied from an early three-run deficit, then scored thrice in the 10th inning against Royals relief pitcher Wade Davis, who allowed two hits and a walk without recording an out. One run scored because of the designated-runner rule.
The Astros’ victory ruined a great game by Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez. He hit a two-run home run into the KC bullpen in right field in the third inning to give the Royals a 3-0 lead . It was Lopez’s first homer since Aug. 8, 2020, a span of 464 at-bats.
“That was awesome,” Lopez said. “I’m just glad that now I can look up at the scoreboard and see there’s not a zero there, there’s a one. ...
“I think one of the best things was looking into the dugout and seeing my teammates, how happy they were, smiling and laughing and joking around. That made my day.”
In the fifth inning, Lopez twice stung the Astros with his glove.
First he dived to his right for a ball that traveled 144.4 mph off the bat of Houston third baseman Jacob Wilson and threw to first for the out. It was the second-hardest hit ball of the game.
Two batters later Lopez sprinted in and snared a slow roller hit by first baseman Yuli Gurriel and got the out.
Lopez did a little bit of everything in the field as he finished with seven assists.
“Nicky had a special day today,” Matheny said.
Lopez wasn’t the only Royals player to play great defense. Second baseman Whit Merrifield stole a hit by ranging far to his right and throwing out a batter. In the seventh inning, with the score tied 3-3, the Royals had the infield in.
Houston’s Jordan Alvarez hit a ball to the right of first baseman Carlos Santana, who snared it and threw home to get Jose Altuve who tried scoring from third.
“You’re talking about very few first baseman in the major leagues who pull that off,” Matheny said.” To be able to cover that kind of ground, make that kind of throw on the move and a nice tag by Gally (Cam Gallagher) on the end.”
That play kept the score tied and the Royals had a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth inning. They had runners on the corners with two outs, but pinch-hitter Hanser Alberto grounded to third to end the threat.
The Astros then pushed across the three runs and got out of Kansas City without being skunked.
Despite being in last place in the AL Central, the Royals see better days ahead after a strong showing against a team with World Series aspirations.
“This is one of those that you kind of write down and it shows that we can compete with the best teams in the league, and it also shows ... there is more in there than we may have been showing,” Lopez said.
“Just to be able to compete and see that we’re battling each and every game is definitely encouraging and just shows that the future is bright here.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2021 at 5:09 PM.
