Kansas City Royals get solid outing from Greinke vs. Tigers, can’t give him run support
The Kansas City Royals scattered nine hits against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. But they couldn’t overcome an early deficit against their American League Central rivals.
The Tigers utilized a three-run sixth inning to beat the Royals 6-4 Wednesday night.
The Royals fell to 15-36 and lost their 13th series this season.
Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke allowed one run across five innings of work. He added five strikeouts and issued one walk. His lone mistake came in the fourth inning — a solo home run by Tigers standout Riley Greene.
Greene drilled a 90.3 mph sinker into the right-field seats. The home run traveled 440 feet and had a 112.6 mph exit velocity.
“I tried to throw it more inside and it ended up being middle up,” Greinke said. “It definitely wasn’t right where I wanted to throw it. ... He hit it pretty good.”
Missed previous games of the series?
Game 1: Royals fall 8-5 to Tigers in extra innings
Game 2: Mike Mayers’ strong outing spearheads Royals victory
The Royals responded to that home run in short order. Bobby Witt Jr. scored on MJ Melendez’s fielder’s choice.
But the Tigers regained the lead in the sixth inning. Detroit manager AJ Hinch turned to pinch hitter Zack Short against Royals reliever Josh Taylor, and Short hit a three-run homer. Detroit led 4-1 at that point.
The Tigers added two more in the eighth inning and held off a late Royals rally to win the game.
“We had chances,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Right to the end, we got the tying run at the plate with guys we feel really good about. They got the one swing with the home run and they added on late, which proved to be huge.”
Vinnie Pasquantino reaches base four times
In recent weeks, Vinnie Pasquantino has struggled at the plate.
He went 3-for-30 on the Royals’ recent nine-game road trip. Things weren’t much better against the Tigers. Pasquantino entered Wednesday night’s game 1-for-8 in the series.
But Pasquantino showed positive signs in Wednesday’s series finale. He went 3-for-4 and reached base four times. In the seventh inning, he hit an RBI single that scored Jackie Bradley Jr. and sliced into the Tigers’ lead.
Pasquantino has recorded 24 RBIs this season. He ranks second on the team behind Salvador Perez (28) in that category.
“I felt good at the plate tonight and I felt I had a solid approach,” Pasquantino said. “I did what I always try to do, and have good at-bats. Tonight, the results you guys see on the scoreboard were there for me individually. Disappointed in the loss, so that’s kind of the main focus.”
Pasquantino said he wasn’t happy with the quality of his at-bats in recent games. He was frustrated with his lack of positive swings and has been trying to figure out a better approach.
“There were a few days I where I go into it a little bit confused as to where I was (mechanically, at the plate),” Pasquantino said. “It’s still a work in progress. ... Tonight’s over with and we are back at it on Friday.”
Nick Wittgren makes Royals debut
The Royals got a look at reliever Nick Wittgren against the Tigers.
Wittgren made his Royals debut and worked two innings. In the seventh, he pitched around a walk and single to record a clean frame.
Then he faltered in the eighth, allowing two runs. Second baseman Jonathan Schoop inflicted the major damage, hitting a two-run double to extend the Tigers’ lead.
“It’s not the best stuff I’ve seen Nick have location wise,” Quatraro said. “He gets through the seventh and we are little thin in the ‘pen tonight so we try to extend him. Unfortunately, he got up to 45 pitches or so. Not ideal and hopefully we don’t do that going forward. He stayed in there, battled and gave us a chance.”
Wittgren pitched two innings in relief. He allowed three hits and two runs and walked three.
Thre Royals promoted Wittgren from Triple-A Omaha, where he recorded a 1.25 ERA in 17 appearances. He had five saves and had a 24.1 strikeout percentage.
Wittgren pitched with the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
Bobby Witt Jr. records 100th career RBI
Bobby Witt Jr. reached a career milestone against the Tigers. He collected his 100th career RBI with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. Witt drove home Maikel Garcia to cut into the Tigers’ lead.
Witt also played in his 200th career game. He went 1-for-4.
What’s next: The Royals are off Thursday before continuing their homestand with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
This story was originally published May 24, 2023 at 10:19 PM.
