Royals outhit Giants but lose 6-2 after Kansas City pitchers give up nine walks
Brady Singer had only walked four batters all season as the Kansas City Royals started a nine-game West Coast road trip in San Francisco.
He wound up walking five Monday night — and the bullpen walked four more as the Giants rallied for a 6-2 victory.
The Royals led 2-0 on Whit Merrifield’s sacrifice fly and an infield RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. that glanced off Giants starter Alex Wood’s glove and trickled away.
But the Giants tied the score in the third after Singer lost control and walked four consecutive batters: two with the bases loaded.
Thairo Estrada hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth and Brandon Crawford doubled in two runs, lifting the Giants to their fourth straight win and sixth in eight games. Austin Slater walked twice and scored twice.
The Royals (20-40) lost their third straight and once again have the worst winning percentage and fewest victories in the majors.
Wood (4-5) pitched four-hit ball over six innings for his first win in more than a month. Coming off his best start of the season when he went seven innings against the Rockies, he had five strikeouts and one walk. The left-hander retired his final 10 batters after Witt’s RBI single in the third, ending his night after 80 pitches.
Mauricio Llovera, Jake McGee and Camilo Doval each retired three batters to complete the six-hitter.
Royals pitchers only allowed five hits. But the Giants made them count.
Estrada lined a 2-2 pitch from Amir Garrett (1-1) into left-center to drive in Slater. Slater led off the inning with a pinch-hit walk and took second on a wild pitch.
Crawford, who struck out before Estrada’s tiebreaking hit, hit a two-run double off Arodys Vizcaíno in the seventh.
Before the game, the Royals placed right-handed reliever Joel Payamps on the injured list because of an undisclosed ailment and selected the contract of right-hander Daniel Mengden from Triple-A Omaha.
The series continues Tuesday with Giants right-hander Logan Webb (5-2, 3.77 ERA) scheduled to face Royals lefty Kris Bubic (0-3, 9.13).
Editor’s note: Because of travel issues, Kansas City Star beat reporter Lynn Worthy was unable to attend this game. His coverage will resume during the remainder of the Royals’ road trip.
This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 11:53 PM.