Alec Marsh struggles, Royals drop series opener 7-5 to the Oakland Athletics
Kansas City Royals starter Alec Marsh flirted with trouble against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
And a few mistakes cost him in the Royals’ 7-5 loss to the Athletics.
“That game is on me,” Marsh said. “I got to get back to work and flush that one.”
Marsh allowed seven earned runs in three innings. Athletics outfielder JJ Bleday recorded three doubles and two RBIs.
But was Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof who did the most damage. Gelof hit a three-run homer off Marsh, blasting an 83.7 mph slider over the left-field wall to give Oakland a 7-2 lead.
“I think from the beginning, it was just not getting ahead in counts and having to come back in counts,” Marsh said. “(I was) leaving things over the middle of the plate. Overall, I didn’t execute well today.”
Marsh was replaced after 76 pitches. The Royals tried to climb out of the early hole behind a few offensive spurts. Second baseman Nick Loftin hit a two-run homer in the second inning to keep pace with the Athletics.
Later, the Royals scored two runs in the eighth inning. That closed the deficit to two runs heading to the ninth.
That wasn’t enough to overcome A’s closer Mason Miller, who quickly retired the side in order.
“He probably used everything up right there in the third (inning),” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Marsh’s start. “The pitch count was up near mid-60s and it was hard work. The stuff looked fine, just didn’t command it as well as he normally does.”
KC dropped to 41-33 this season and dropped the series opener. Meanwhile, Oakland improved to 27-48 with the victory.
Oakland starter Hogan Harris picked up his first victory of the 2024 season.
“Harris did really well on the mound and he executed his pitches,” Loftin said. “And that’s just the name of the game. Their bullpen did well to shut us down in big situations when we had men in scoring position. Just didn’t get that timely hit and that’s baseball.”
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Here are more notables from Tuesday’s game:
Nick Loftin achieves career milestone
Loftin circled the bases for the first time on Tuesday night. In the second inning, Loftin hit a 92.5-mph fastball over the left-field wall.
Pitcher Hogan Harris missed his location over the plate and Loftin took advantage. The baseball just cleared the outfield fence as the Royals tied the game at 2-2.
“I was lucky to get a fastball right down the middle and honestly when I hit it, I blacked out and I don’t know exactly what happened after that,” Loftin said. “But, you know, I’m very thankful to get that first one out of the way.”
Loftin had gone 138 career at-bats without a home run. He was pumped as he touched home plate and celebrated with his teammates.
This season, Loftin is hitting .253 with 12 RBIs in 32 games. He finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs in Tuesday’s matchup.
After the game, Loftin revealed that he got the baseball bat authenticated. He plans to hang it on the wall in his home so he can share it with his family.
“My son’s going to grow up to see it as well and know his dad hit a home run in the big leagues,” Loftin said.
Royals progressing on injury front
Several injured Royals are getting closer to a potential return.
Royals starter Michael Wacha threw four scoreless innings for the Surprise Royals in the Arizona Complex League on Monday. He allowed two hits and registered six strikeouts in his rehab start.
There is a chance Wacha returns on the final leg of the Royals road trip. If all goes well, Wacha could get cleared to start Saturday against the Texas Rangers.
“Four innings and 48 pitches,” Quatraro said of Wacha’s workload. “He threw another 18 pitches in the bullpen to get his workload up. Said he felt really good.”
Meanwhile, Royals second baseman Michael Massey began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. He is set to get consistent at-bats in a designated-hitter role before progressing to on-field work.
“We are going to start with hitting and see how that goes before we progress to the defense,” Quatraro said.
What’s next on the KC Royals’ schedule?
The Royals continue their three-game series against the Athletics. On Wednesday, Royals ace Cole Ragans will draw the start at the Oakland Coliseum.
Ragans tossed seven shutout innings on May 17 against the Athletics. The talented southpaw has registered 102 strikeouts, which rank second in the American League.
The Athletics are set to start right-hander Luis Medina on Wednesday. He owns a 5.87 ERA in 15 1/3 innings pitched.
This story was originally published June 18, 2024 at 11:29 PM.
