Crucial big hit eludes Kansas City Royals in extra-inning loss to the Indians
The Kansas City Royals had three cracks at ending the game with a walk-off celebration, but they came up painfully empty.
The Royals lost 5-3 to the Cleveland Indians in 11 innings Wednesday night in the second game of their three-game series in front of an announced 10,516 at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals fell to 3-5 in extra-inning games this season.
The Royals (59-73) have lost three in a row, and they’ll try to avoid a series sweep on Thursday night.
After relief pitcher Domingo Tapia kept the Indians from scoring in the top of the 10th, the Royals loaded the bases with the help of the automatic runner in the bottom of the 10th inning, an error on a ball hit to second base by Whit Merrifield and a walk by Nicky Lopez.
But the heart of the Royals batting order — Sal Perez, Carlos Santana and Michael A. Taylor — went down in order on a strikeout and back-to-back pop-ups.
“We like where we are right there,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “We can’t keep asking the exact same guy to come through every single time. He’s been ridiculously consistent and off-the-charts good in those situations. We just let it slip through our hands right there.”
Perez, who entered this week coming off of one of the hottest-hitting road trips in recent history and AL Player of the Week honors, hit grand slams in back-to-back games last week and has three walk-off RBIs this season. He struck out before Santana and Taylor popped up.
“It’s a blessing and a curse, what he has done, because anytime he’s up we just expect that it’s going to happen — he’s going to do something amazing,” Merrrifield said of Perez. “It’s not fair, but it’s how good he is and how good he has been that we expect that. So we’ve got to remember it’s a much harder game than he’s making it look.”
The Royals gave up two runs with two outs in the top of the 11th.
With two outs, the Royals issued an intentional walk to Indians slugger Bobby Bradley. Then Austin Hedges’ two-out flare dropped just barely over the head of first baseman Carlos Santana and in front of right fielder Edward Olivares and scored the automatic runner, who was going on contact with two outs, to give the Indians the lead.
Yu Chang’s RBI double drove in an insurance run to make the final score 5-3.
The Royals went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position, and they stranded 10 men on base.
Adalberto Mondesi went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and a home run in his first game back off the injured list. Merrifield had a hit, a walk and a run scored. Hunter Dozier, Hanser Alberto and Lopez (one hit, one walk) all also had hits.
Royals starting pitcher Jackson Kowar allowed just two unearned runs on four hits and three walks in six innings to record his first quality start as a major-league pitcher.
Thursday night’s series finale is scheduled for a 7:10 p.m. start. The pitching match-up will feature Royals left-hander Mike Minor (8-11, 5.30) against Indians right-hander Triston McKenzie (3-5, 4.83).
This story was originally published September 1, 2021 at 11:07 PM.
