How the Royals used a 6-run inning to split Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Brewers
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- Royals produced a six-run sixth inning to turn a 2–2 tie into an 8–2 win.
- Salvador Perez hit his 305th homer as KC sent 12 batters through the sixth.
- Seth Lugo tossed five innings amid command issues and took a no-decision.
When the Kansas City Royals get rolling offensively, there isn’t much that can slow their momentum.
On Saturday, they strung together a six-run inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game two of a split doubleheader. The Royals (4-4) batted around in the sixth and secured an 8-2 victory on a chilly spring evening at Kauffman Stadium.
“That’s a gritty win tonight after cold weather ...” Royals outfielder Isaac Collins said.
Royals captain Salvador Perez led the way. He belted a solo homer that gave the club a 3-2 advantage. It was his 305th career home run, leaving him just 13 shy of surpassing George Brett’s franchise record.
“It gives us the lead, gives us a little sigh of relief,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of the homer.
From there, the Royals battered the Milwaukee bullpen.
Four Royals singled in succession — led by Collins and Kyle Isbel’s run-producing knocks. Maikel Garcia doubled to drive one in, and KC got another via an error and wild pitch.
“I think every time we’re doing something good, everybody gets excited,” Perez said. “The guy behind me is trying to do his job, you know, just try to keep the line moving.”
KC sent 12 hitters to the plate in the sixth. The scoring outburst picked up Seth Lugo, who dealt with early command issues. Lugo pitched five innings but labored.
The Brewers (6-2) scored twice in the third. They tied the game after the Royals had taken a 2-0 lead in the second. Carter Jensen — making his first start since being late to the ballpark Thursday — hit a two-run double to open the scoring for the Royals.
“At the end of the day, I was trying not to do too much and trust myself,” Jensen said.
The game was tied until the sixth. That’s when the Royals pulled ahead and evened the series ahead of Sunday’s finale.
Seth Lugo salvages inefficient start
Lugo didn’t have his best command Saturday. The Brewers made him battle throughout his start.
There were long innings and even longer at-bats. Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins worked an 11-pitch at-bat in the third inning. Milwaukee scored twice on three hits.
“I thought I filled up the strike zone pretty well and mixed some pitches,” Lugo said. “I stayed on the attack. They are kind of a scrappy lineup. Just fouling off a lot of pitches drove my pitch count up.”
Brice Turang hit an RBI triple. The baseball rolled past left fielder Isaac Collins as he attempted to make a diving catch. Later, Garrett Mitchell added an RBI double — his sixth RBI of the doubleheader — and the Brewers tied the game.
Lugo threw 103 pitches in five innings. He relied on his curveball to help balance his four-seam fastball and sinker. The Brewers worked their at-bats, but Lugo was resilient.
“After watching the first game, it kind of seemed like their hitters, they kind of were on an in-between speed,” Lugo said. “So for the curveball, I just tried to take a little bit off and slow it down and really get them out of a rhythm. I think I did that well.”
In the fourth inning, he overcame a single and two walks that loaded the bases. He struck out Joey Ortiz to avoid significant trouble. And he worked a clean fifth to keep the game tied at 2.
“I felt like I was in control the whole time,” Lugo said. “I mean, even with a couple of jams, I felt like I was executing pitches. I didn’t feel like I was laboring or getting tired. I was kind of fighting to go back out for the sixth. I was feeling good.”
Lugo took a no-decision. But his ability to grind through five innings spared the Royals’ bullpen and gave them a chance to win the game.
“It was kind of like two games in one, all in five innings ...” Quatraro said of Lugo’s outing. “He got some pretty ugly swings. It was just a lot of pitches in five innings.”
What’s next: Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (1-0, 1.50 ERA) starts Sunday at Kauffman Stadium opposite Brewers lefty Kyle Harrison (0-0, 1.80 ERA). First pitch set for 1:10 p.m. Central Time.
This story was originally published April 4, 2026 at 9:06 PM.
