KC Royals end 3 ugly streaks, move up in AL Central race with win over Guardians
The Royals’ biggest rally in a week began with a ball hit all of 3 feet and ended with one blasted 423 feet.
On the former hit, all Cleveland third baseman José Ramirez could do was glove Paul DeJong’s dribbler to open the fourth inning.
That seemingly innocuous infield single started a four-run frame Wednesday that carried the Royals to a badly needed 4-1 win in front of 14,094 fans at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals ended a seven-game losing streak and moved back into second place in the American League Central Division, 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland. The Twins, who lost at Tampa Bay on Wednesday, are also 4 1/2 games back. The Royals opened up a 5 1/2-game lead on three teams in the wild-card race.
“(I’m) really, really happy for those guys, because nobody wants to lose, right?” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “And when you string a whole week of games together where you don’t win any of them, it wears on you — mentally, physically, makes it tougher to believe in yourself.”
It’s been an especially long week for Quatraro, who returned to the dugout Wednesday after missing Monday and Tuesday’s games against Cleveland to attend funeral services for his mother in New York.
In the pivotal fourth inning of Wednesday’s game, Royals designated hitter Robbie Grossman followed DeJong’s bleeder with a sharp single to right field. Then Michael Massey grounded a ball up the middle for an RBI single that tied the game 1-1.
Cleveland nearly put an end to the rally right there, as the next two batters made outs. But right fielder Tommy Pham crushed a three-run homer to left field off Ben Lively and put the Royals up 4-1.
It was Pham’s first home run since being claimed off waivers by the Royals on Saturday.
Although the Royals have struggled at the plate recently, Pham said he wasn’t trying to do too much when he stepped into the batter’s box.
“I don’t think about that in situations with men on base,” he said. “If anything, I’m just trying to get a good pitch to hit, really hunting my pitch, staying in the strike zone. If it’s not there, then you kind of pass the baton to the next guy.”
On Wednesday, Pham carried the baton for the Royals.
Missed previous games of the series?
Game 1: Royals fail to get key hit in 4-2 loss to Guardians
Game 2: Royals offense continues to struggle in 7-1 loss
Streak busters
In addition to stopping their seven-game skid, the Royals ended a streak of six straight games with three or fewer runs scored — their longest such stretch since Aug. 15-21, 2022.
The Royals also had scored two or fewer runs in their previous five games, the longest such stretch in that regard since 2018.
Lugo is solid again
Royals right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo turned in another dazzling start, allowing just one run on six hits over seven innings with four strikeouts.
“It’s one of those games I felt like it was up to me to really put up a good start,” Lugo said. “I knew how important this one was, but I didn’t do anything different, really. Just that mindset that we were going to win tonight.”
Lugo’s record in 2024 improved to 15-8.
Erceg gets save
Lucas Erceg picked up his ninth save of the season and first since suffering a minor hand injury last Thursday on a weird play in Houston.
Erceg retired the Guardians in order and struck out a batter in the ninth.
“It just feels good to be back in the win column, save or not,” Erceg said. “I mean, they called me to get the job done, so that’s what I did, and I felt good. So we’re just gonna have to keep stacking these on and keep playing hard.”
Sal’s sly slide
Royals first baseman Salvador Perez hit a double in the third inning, but it looked like he might have made a mistake trying for two bases.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan made a great throw to second, but Perez’s slide to avoid the tag was even better.
Injury report
Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 25, began a rehab assignment Wednesday night at Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Renfroe landed on the IL because of a strained right hamstring. He was hitless in four at-bats Wednesday with an RBI.
What’s next: The Royals are off Thursday, then open a three-game series Friday against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Lefty Cole Ragans will start for KC, while right-hander Zebby Matthews will take the ball for the Twins. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.
This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 9:07 PM.
