It was 3-3 in the 9th, but Royals couldn’t keep win streak going vs. Rangers
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals' six-game win streak ends with 6-3 loss to Rangers on Wednesday night.
- KC remains 2½ games behind Mariners for final AL wild-card spot with 35 left.
- Vinnie Pasquantino leads Royals with 25 home runs, adds 3-run shot vs. Rangers.
The Kansas City Royals are playing with house money and the dealer has laid down the cards before them.
Entering their 10-game homestand at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals knew a hot stretch was needed to get back into the American League playoff picture.
KC sat two games under .500 (58-60) on Aug. 11. The Royals were four games behind the New York Yankees for the final AL wild-card spot.
A road-series loss against the Minnesota Twins didn’t help matters. Neither did a rough stretch from All-Star pitcher Seth Lugo or an offense plagued by inconsistency.
Yet the Royals got a favorable hand this week. They were dealt an opportunity to make up postseason ground against the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers at home.
Fans clamored for a winning homestand. Some said the benchmark for a successful home stay was seven wins. And to win seven, the Royals would have to win each upcoming series.
The Royals met the challenge but fell short of completing it Wednesday. The Rangers scored three late runs to beat the Royals 6-3 at Kauffman Stadium.
“We’ve just got to attack what’s in front of us and (a series victory) is currently what’s in front of us,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “So, quick turnaround and go to get ready for 1 p.m. tomorrow.”
KC raced to an early lead Wednesday. In the first inning, Pasquantino — who has hit a home run three consecutive days — belted a three-run shot off Rangers starting pitcher Caleb Boushley. The homer traveled 425 feet into the right-field fountains.
Pasquantino now leads the Royals with 25 home runs and 86 RBIs this season.
“I mean, leading off the game like (Mike Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr.) did helps me in just seeing a lot of pitches,” Pasquantino said. “Just grinding that guy down and making him throw. I thought we did a nice job with that. ... We tried to just put some at-bats on him and get more into the bullpen.”
On the mound, Royals starter Noah Cameron was not to be outdone. The St. Joseph native added to his AL Rookie of the Year candidacy through 4 2/3 innings. It wasn’t his best performance, but Cameron limited the Rangers to just two runs while recording five strikeouts.
“Not super happy, I guess, with just the efficiency, but obviously glad with the results,” Cameron said. “You know, (I) kept us in it and getting the three-run homer from Vinnie was huge there after giving up a leadoff homer.”
Rangers star Wyatt Langford tagged Cameron with a leadoff home run. From there, however, Cameron settled into his outing. He worked around three walks and gave the Royals a chance to win the game.
Left-handed reliever Sam Long turned in an uneven performance. His highlight came in the eighth inning, when he picked off Ezequiel Duran at second base in a tie game.
But the Royals failed to capitalize in the bottom half of the inning. And then the Rangers surged forward for good on Kyle Higashioka’s go-ahead, three-run double.
“Sammy made some great pitches,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I mean, that’s a really unfortunate way for the ninth inning to unfold.
“He battled like crazy and made some really quality pitches and ultimately, the one swing of the at-bat did us in. There were the infield hit, walk, error ... A little bit of a sloppy inning and they got some fortunate breaks and then the double did us in.”
A turning point came via Pasquantino’s error in the ninth. He mishandled a line drive off his glove and the Rangers had two aboard. Two batters later, Higashioka cleared the bases and put the game out of reach.
“It was not good enough,” Pasquantino said. “Play has got to be made. Nothing happened other than me not catching it. Lost us the game. Make that play and you move into the bottom of the ninth there and we have a chance to win a ballgame in a tie game.
“That play happens and they were able to score three runs after that. So, the direct cause and effect was me not catching that ball.”
The Royals (65-62), who failed to take advantage of their own bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning, saw their six-game winning streak snapped.
AL Wild Card update
The Royals benefited from earlier losses by the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mariners (68-60) have dropped five consecutive games and will begin a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday night. The Guardians (64-62) also lost in extra innings, to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Royals remain 2 1/2 games behind the Mariners for the final AL wild-card spot while being up — both in the AL Central and wild card standings — by a half-game on the Guardians with 35 games to play.
What’s next: The Royals conclude their 10-game homestand against the Rangers on Thursday afternoon. KC right-hander Michael Lorenzen (5-8, 4.43 ERA) will make his second start since returning from the 15-day injured list opposite veteran lefty starter Patrick Corbin (6-9, 4.45 ERA).
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM.
