Royals salvage win in series finale at Cleveland but have work to do vs. Yankees
The Kansas City Royals are a bit of an enigma right now.
That was apparent during their weekend series at Progressive Field against the reigning American League Central champion Guardians. The Royals’ starting pitchers were effective, as they’ve generally been through 16 games, but KC’s run support and defense weren’t consistently adequate.
The Royals were outscored 13-3 in their first two games in Cleveland. On Sunday, they scored four runs to salvage a 4-2 victory in the series finale.
Royals ace Cole Ragans pitched with authority Sunday afternoon. He struck out 10 Guardians in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed both Cleveland runs but earned his first win of the season.
He also became the first Royals pitcher since Kevin Appier in 1996 to strike out 10-plus batters in three straight games.
“We will take that start every time,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It doesn’t matter if we have won a couple or lost a couple, you are going to take that start every day of the week, regardless of who you are playing.”
By playing less-spotty defense (more on that later), and perhaps hitting the Guardians’ pitching more consistently, the Royals might’ve changed the outcome of a pivotal series against division-leading Cleveland.
Neither of those things happened. Not consistently, anyway. Kansas City’s bats were ice-cold for the most of this series.
The Royals are 8-8 now. The series loss in Cleveland kicked off an important 10-game road swing against AL contenders.
“We are here to win and the first couple of games (of this road trip) didn’t go our way,” Quatraro said. “This is the same type of game and we were on the other side of it the last two days.
“They are close games late. We got good pitching today and we got some clutch hitting. They got those the other days. Obviously, we want to win the series. It didn’t happen, but to get out of here with one is better than none.”
The Royals’ schedule gets no easier, with looming series at the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. Until then, here are three takeaways from the Royals’ three games at Progressive Field.
Royals hurt by defensive miscues
The Royals didn’t play the cleanest series against the Guardians. The low point was Friday, when they committed three errors in a 7-0 loss.
Infielder Jonathan India had two: He botched a throw and misjudged a pop-fly near the third base bag.
It was the Royals’ first three-error game since 2023.
“It was tough,” said India, who did not start Sunday’s series finale due to tightness in his right quad. “The throwing one, it was just a cold night. I tried to get rid of it quick and just pulled (Michael) Massey off the base. And then the popup, that’s part of the game. I have never done that in my life.”
There was also some miscommunication Saturday on an infield single. Royals starter Michael Lorenzen and utilityman Cavan Biggio, who was playing first base, failed to cover the bag on a slowly hit ground ball.
The Guardians had two men on base after that blunder and eventually scored a run out of it.
Lorenzen took responsibility.
“I should’ve taken charge and just dove for the base and made sure that we got at least one out,” he said. “So that’s on me.”
In Sunday’s series finale, Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made an uncharacteristic error on a relay throw, allowing two runs to score. Witt threw wildly to home plate and the baseball rolled to the backstop.
Daniel Schneemann had doubled on the play, driving in Guardians teammate Jhonkensy Noel. Witt’s offline throw allowed Schneemann to come all the way home and score, too.
The Royals were able to overcome that particular mistake, but it provided another lowlight for what turned out to be a tough series defensively.
Injuries start to pile up for Royals
The Royals will be without two key pitchers in their bullpen for a while.
KC placed right-handed reliever Hunter Harvey and left-hander Sam Long on the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Harvey is dealing with right teres major strain in his shoulder. He felt discomfort while warming up against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday and did not make this current 10-game road trip, instead remaining in Kansas City.
Long, meanwhile, landed on the 15-day injured list Sunday. He has inflammation in his left elbow and will receive a medical evaluation in KC.
With Harvey and Long on the IL, the Royals recalled prospects Evan Sisk (LHP) and Steven Cruz (RHP). Both were acquired in a January 2023 trade with the Twins.
Silver lining? Vinnie, Salvy finding rhythm
The Royals need Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez to produce at a high level at the plate.
There were signs during the Guardians series that both star players could be close to turning a corner.
Pasquantino put together a handful of great at-bats in Cleveland. He hit his second home run of the season Saturday. He contributed three of the Royals’ six hits in that game and leads the club with 11 RBIs.
And Perez, the decorated club captain, hit a two-run homer in Sunday’s series finale. He drilled a 78.8 mph sweeper over the center field wall to tie the game 2-2.
Perez has now hit safely in four consecutive games.
“I think it’s day by day, just getting better and better,” Witt said. “That’s what we are just going to continue doing.
“It’s one of those things where you have to take better at-bats, have the right approach and keep going at it.”
This story was originally published April 13, 2025 at 3:09 PM.
