Kris Bubic knocked out early as Royals drop doubleheader finale to Guardians
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- Royals starter Kris Bubic walked four straight batters, allowing three early runs.
- Freddy Fermin and Bobby Witt Jr. hit home runs to cut the Guardians’ lead.
- Guardians secured a 6-4 win and split the doubleheader behind Clase’s 24th save.
Kris Bubic’s first inning against the Cleveland Guardians is one that he will no doubt want to forget.
Coming off his first All-Star appearance, the Royals’ starting pitcher walked the first four batters of the game to open Saturday’s doubleheader nightcap at Kauffman Stadium. The left-hander issued free passes to Guardians batters Steven Kwan, Angel Martinez, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana.
“Yeah it sucked,” Bubic said. “No excuses for starting the game like that and putting the guys in a bad spot and basically being a liability for however many pitches I threw tonight.”
Cleveland used those walks to score three first-inning runs en route to a 6-4 victory in the nightcap of a Saturday doubleheader. The first occurred when Bubic walked a man with the bases loaded. He threw just 18 of 43 pitches for strikes in the opening frame.
That put the Royals in an early hole. And this time, unlike the first game of the day, KC couldn’t make up the difference.
After the game, Bubic admitted that he is dealing with some shoulder stiffness.
“Yeah, it’s been battling me for a little bit and it’s just getting to the point where, you know, it’s bugging me a little bit more than it needs to,” he said. “We’ll see how I feel coming in tomorrow and then we will go from there.”
Bubic allowed four runs (three earned) in 2 2/3 innings before hitting the showers. It was his shortest start of the season and the third time he has recorded four walks in a game.
The Royals chipped into the Guardians’ lead behind home runs from Freddy Fermin and Bobby Witt Jr. Fermin’s came in the second inning, when he belted an 87 mph cutter into the Guardians’ bullpen for his third home run of the season.
Witt clubbed his two-run homer in the fifth. It was his 15th of the year. Fermin and third baseman Maikel Garcia had two hits apiece.
“I felt like we were in it the whole way,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We didn’t come through with it, obviously. But Maikey’s triple and you get Salvy (Perez) to the plate, there are plenty of scenarios that were provided to us because of what the bullpen was doing.”
Cleveland limited the Royals down the stretch and closer Emmanuel Clase earned his 24th save after blowing a save opportunity in Saturday’s Game 1, which the Royals won 5-3 in 10 innings.
The Guardians (52-52), one of the teams ahead of the Royals in the American League wild-card chase, got help from Kwan and fellow outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez — each recorded two RBIs.
The Royals (51-54) finished 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left two men on base.
Royals acquire veteran bat
The Royals executed a trade during Game 2 against the Guardians. KC acquired veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed reliever Andrew Hoffmann.
Grichuk, 33, returns to the Midwest after beginning his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is hitting .243 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs this season. He has posted a .924 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in 16 games this month.
The move comes as the Royals look to add balance to their lineup. Grichuk provides another right-handed bat with Mark Canha still on the injured list.
Top Royals rookie Jac Caglianone is dealing with a left-hamstring strain, as well. Other injuries include Nick Loftin (concussion list) and Michael Massey (rehab assignment).
The Royals’ current outfield corps features Grichuk, MJ Melendez, Kyle Isbel and John Rave. Tyler Tolbert and Adam Frazier are versatile utility players on the bench.
What’s next: The weekend series concludes Sunday afternoon at The K. The Royals will send rookie left-hander Noah Cameron (4-4, 2.61 ERA) to the mound opposite Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo (2-0, 3.91 ERA).
This story was originally published July 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM.
