Royals are 0 for last 9 at Kauffman Stadium. Here’s how Rays blanked KC Wednesday
There wasn’t much for Kansas City Royals fans to cheer about on Wednesday night.
The Royals lost their ninth consecutive home game at Kauffman Stadium. And it wasn’t particularly close, as the Tampa Bay Rays earned a 3-0 shutout.
“It’s terrible to think about, but I don’t remember the last time that we kind of won at home,” Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said. “And so it’s one of those things where we’ve gotta get our stuff right and get our stuff together and be ready to play tomorrow.”
A bright spot for the Royals? The play in right field of rookie Jac Caglianone.
Called up earlier this month, the organization’s top prospect gave the home fans reason to celebrate in the fifth inning, when he robbed Rays outfielder Jonathan Aranda of extra bases. Caglianone laid out and made a terrific diving catch near the right-field line.
The highlight-reel grab prevented a run from scoring. And it was Caglianone’s second noteworthy defensive play in the span of a week: On Sunday, he took away a potential home run from Padres star Jackson Merrill as he scaled the outfield wall at Petco Park in San Diego.
“I just saw it was a fade minor,” Caglianone said. “As I got close to it, I kind of realized I had a chance on it. So just laid out and tried to help the team out.”
Caglianone has worked diligently with Royals coaching guru Rusty Kuntz to refine his outfield versatility. He hadn’t played the position since high school, but he received a crash course this year in the minor leagues.
“Definitely kind of helps with the comfortability aspect of it,” Caglianone said.
He is looking like a quick study. He has adapted well to playing right field, adding another dimension to his expansive game.
“Jac played a really good right field today and made some good throws,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He went to (his) right once, went to (his) left for the diving play and caught the ball on the foul line. He had a really good game in right field.”
The Royals’ last win at The K was May 31 against the Detroit Tigers, when they prevailed 1-0.
About the Royals’ home woes
While Caglianone stood out defensively, the Royals continued to struggle to score runs — a recurring theme this season.
In the sixth inning, they had a runner in scoring position with one out. Bobby Witt Jr. began the frame with a double but got stranded at second base.
Here is what happened.
Maikel Garcia struck out on four pitches. Next, Vinnie Pasquantino faced Rays left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger, who had just entered the game.
Cleavinger threw one pitch: Pasquantino was aggressive and flew out to end the inning. KC finished 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
“There is not one answer,” Quatraro said when asked the reason for the first-pitch swings. “Sometimes you take and you are behind 0-1. These guys (opposing pitchers) get ahead, and that’s what they do. They have good stuff.
“If you want to be behind, you can take that pitch or you can do something with it. The issue is you’ve got to square it up.”
While the Royals misfired, the Rays (45-35) took advantage of their own opportunities. In the second inning, Tampa Bay peppered Royals starter Michael Wacha with singles. Wacha allowed three runs that inning, including two via well-placed bunts.
Jose Caballero and Danny Jansen each recorded RBIs. The Rays added another run on a wild pitch.
Wacha logged a quality start after allowing three earned runs in six innings. He recorded nine strikeouts — tying his season high — but suffered his seventh loss of the year.
“Those are a couple of the most perfect bunts I’ve ever seen,” Wacha said. “They were able to scratch across a few runs there and it ended up being all they needed.”
The Royals (38-42) have dropped 16 of their last 19 games at home. They have been shut out four times and scored two runs or fewer on seven occasions during that time.
What’s next: The Royals conclude their three-game series against the Rays on Thursday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (4-7, 4.81 ERA) draws the start opposite Rays ace right-hander Shane Baz (7-3, 4.79 ERA).
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 9:08 PM.
