Marlins spoil Rave’s career night as Royals drop extra-inning thriller at Miami
John Rave had a new jersey hanging in his locker on Friday afternoon.
The Kansas City Royals rookie had switched numbers during the All-Star break and would henceforth be wearing No. 16.
The reason?
The Royals reunited with MLB veteran Adam Frazier on Wednesday.
Frazier, who spent the first half of the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, returned in a trade for infield prospect Cam Devanney. The Royals value Frazier’s leadership and ability to hit right-handed pitching.
Rave switched his jersey number to accommodate his newest teammate.
And Rave didn’t take long to get accustomed to the new uniform. On Friday, Rave hit two home runs against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
However, it wasn’t enough as the Marlins pulled out a 8-7 victory in extra innings.
“Winning is kind of the most important part, but it was a pretty cool day for me at the plate,” Rave told local reporters, via FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City. “I found a couple of barrels and felt good.”
Rave hadn’t homered in 69 career at-bats. In the fourth inning, Rave hit his first career homer off former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. Rave belted the baseball 422 feet as the Royals cut into a five-run deficit.
Later, Rave hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning. He finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs.
“I have just been working hard on swing decisions and my swing itself,” Rave said. “I got into a couple of good counts there and felt like Sandy (Alcantara) was probably going to go heater there. He throws 99-100 (mph) consistently, and I was trying to get to a heater there. I hit it up the middle and put a barrel on it.”
The Royals got off to a slow start. Alcantara received early run support as the Marlins battered Royals starter Seth Lugo. Miami scored three runs — a homer each from Jesus Sanchez and Kyle Stowers — in the first inning.
Stowers, who made his first All-Star appearance this week, finished with two homers and five RBIs.
“I know I was throwing a lot of strikes early in the game, and it took me a little while to get to the edges and off the edges to get them off balance,” Lugo told local reporters in Miami. “I think going right at them out the gate there, they were swinging early. That’s where they got me early in the game.”
Lugo allowed five runs for the first time this season. He struggled with command and the Marlins knocked him around with eight hits across six innings.
Lugo finished with a no decision.
The Royals (47-51) battled though and sent the game to extra innings. But the Marlins (45-51) came away with a walk-off victory at home on Stowers’ second long ball.
Stowers has five home runs and 11 RBIs in his last two games.
“You have a two-run lead with (reliever) Carlos (Estévez) coming into the game. That’s what we hope for, right,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told local reporters in Miami. “They put a couple of good swings on him, and that is a tough way to lose. We are going to take our chances with that.”
Adam Frazier shines in return
Frazier made his presence known in his first game back with the Royals. In the 10th inning, he laced a two-run double down the right-field line as the Royals took a late 7-5 lead.
“I was trying to get a hit right there with Bob (Witt Jr.) on second,” Frazier said postgame via FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City. “I took a good one to hit, probably the first pitch. So I was just trying to be ready to hit, really.”
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“I had a few days off,” Frazier continued, “so I wanted to get on time. I stayed through it with a slider right there. Felt good to come through for the boys.”
In the process, he also picked up teammates Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia. Each failed to drive in two runners in scoring position with their chance in the 10th.
But Frazier stepped up in a big way. He entered play hitting .267 against right-handed pitchers and delivered against Marlins reliever Lake Bachar.
“The guys make me comfortable here and they are great,” Frazier said. “Felt like I never left, really. Seeing all the familiar faces and their energy — coaches as well — it felt pretty good.”
Bachar challenged Frazier with a sweeper on the inside part of the plate. Frazier reached down and sent the baseball into right field. Both Jonathan India (in the game as KC’s designated extra-innings runner) and Bobby Witt Jr. came home to score.
What’s next: The Royals continue their weekend series at the Marlins. On Saturday, KC right-handed starter Michael Wacha (4-9, 3.74 ERA) will start opposite MLB veteran Cal Quantrill (3-8, 5.62 ERA) at 3:10 p.m. Central Time.
This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM.
