Kansas City Royals’ Cole Ragans was once again dominant. How KC fell to the Pirates
Kansas City Royals starter Cole Ragans pitched a career-high seven innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
In his seventh start with the Royals, Ragans allowed three hits, no runs and struck out nine batters. It was his third consecutive quality start as he ran his scoreless streak to 15 innings.
“I go out there and try to give my team a chance to win,” Ragans said. “I give it all I have knowing the guys behind me have my back like I have theirs.”
Well, Ragans did enough to win the game. However, the Royals’ bullpen unraveled late as the Pirates stormed back to win 6-3 at Kauffman Stadium.
In the eighth inning, Pirates star Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a two-run homer off Royals reliever Carlos Hernandez. Hayes hit a hanging 86.9 mph slider into the outfield seats. The blast traveled 424 feet.
An inning later, Pirates shortstop Liover Peguero added three insurance runs. He hit his sixth home run off Royals newcomer Steven Cruz.
“It’s really frustrating, especially the way (Ragans) pitched the whole game,” Hernandez said through a club translator. “It was a gem, and the fact that happens at the end is not (what you want).”
The Royals had six hits in the game. KC duo Freddy Fermin and Nelson Velázquez had a pair of doubles. Fermin finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
“We haven’t done enough,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “The at-bats were better tonight and we had a chance to kind of break it open in the fourth and only came away with one (run).”
Ragans was left with a no-decision. He finished August with 53 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings pitched. It was the second-most strikeouts in a single month by a Royals pitcher in franchise history.
Former Royals pitcher Dennis Leonard set the record during the 1977 season. He had 55 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings in June of that year.
Ragans is 3-1 with a 1.73 ERA in seven starts since joining the Royals.
“He can get swing and miss in the zone and he can get chase,” Quatraro said. “That’s an elite level pitcher. I don’t know who else in the league has pitched as well as him this month. He has got to be up there at the top.”
Pirates pitcher Luis Ortiz won his third game while operating as a “bulk” reliever. He allowed one run and struck out five batters in five innings of work.
The Royals dropped to 41-93 and will look to avoid a sweep Wednesday night.
Missed the start of the series?
Tough Loss: Royals silenced in 5-0 loss to Pirates
Injury Update: Royals plan to skip Brady Singer’s next start due to arm fatigue
Here are more notables from Tuesday’s game:
Drew Waters snaps Royals’ scoreless drought
The Royals are stuck in an offensive funk. After being shut out Monday night, KC managed to scratch across one run against the Pirates.
In the fourth inning, the Royals manufactured an early lead. Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. — in the midst of a terrific individual season — hit a leadoff single to begin the frame. Next, Royals captain Salvador Perez got aboard with a single, and Velázquez drew a walk after an MJ Melendez strikeout.
KC set up a bases-loaded situation. Outfielder Drew Waters delivered with an RBI groundout that popped out of Pirates first baseman Connor Joe’s glove.
Witt scored on the play. It was the Royals’ first run since Sunday’s finale against the Seattle Mariners.
Royals reliever Steven Cruz makes MLB debut
The Royals got a look at another bullpen arm. Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Royals promoted reliever Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha.
Cruz, 24, has posted a 3.81 ERA and nine saves in 43 minor-league appearances. He began the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Cruz made his first MLB appearance in the ninth inning. He allowed four runs and three walks while also surrendering Peguero’s three-run homer.
The Royals acquired Cruz from the Minnesota Twins this offseason. He was part of the Michael A. Taylor trade in January.
KC optioned reliever Taylor Hearn to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
What’s next: The Royals conclude their three-game series against the Pirates. Angel Zerpa will start against Pirates hurler Andre Jackson in the series finale.
This story was originally published August 29, 2023 at 10:10 PM.
