Bobby Witt Jr. hopes boos from Kansas City crowd will wake up the Royals
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals suffered a 7-5 loss to the Orioles as boos echoed at Kauffman Stadium.
- Kansas City carries a 7-16 record and has dropped eight consecutive games.
- Offense went 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left 16 men on base.
Kansas City Royals fans voiced their displeasure with the team’s effort during Monday’s 7-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium.
There were boos throughout the night. The Royals (7-16) own the worst record in Major League Baseball and have lost eight consecutive games.
Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. addressed the situation postgame. He felt the Royals’ fan base deserved a better product on the field.
“Yeah, it sucks,” Witt said. “But if you’re the worst team in baseball, you might deserve to get booed every once in a while. It should motivate us to get better. Just motivate us to go out there and just lay it all on the field each and every night. Give it all every night, and so just go from there.”
The Royals have struggled in several areas. In Monday’s game, the club finished 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left 16 men on base. The offense squandered a quality start from Seth Lugo, who didn’t allow a run across seven innings.
There were ample scoring chances as well. In the third inning, the Royals loaded the bases with no outs. However, they were unable to score as Michael Massey, Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins were retired in order.
The same scenario was at play in the sixth inning. This time, the Royals left the bases loaded as Vinnie Pasquantino struck out to end the frame.
It seemed the Royals were going to hold on late. Lugo made one run — which happened to be a Caglianone solo homer — stand up until the Royals’ bullpen cost them with two outs in the ninth.
Closer Lucas Erceg allowed the game-tying RBI, which sent the game to extra innings before Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras hit a go-ahead grand slam in the 12th inning to seal the victory.
And there were more boos. At one point, some fans chanted for a coaching change and for better play on the field.
“We’ve got to get better every day and try to just improve,” Witt said. “And so, it’s frustrating, sucks. It’s just one of those things where we’ve just got to be better. Got to play better and I’ve got to take better at-bats. Maikey (Maikel Garcia) leads off the game, a couple of games, with a leadoff hit and I strike out. Got to get better. It’s just those things, just got to play baseball. We’ve got to go out there and just enjoy the game.”
The Royals are amid their second-longest losing streak since 2023. That year, the club lost 10 consecutive games from June 5-16.
When asked if there are guys pressing, Royals manager Matt Quatraro didn’t agree. He just hopes the players keep fighting to climb out of the early hole.
“The mood in the dugout throughout the game, the mood all day in the clubhouse was outstanding,” Quatraro said. “Are they going to be frustrated right now? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, why wouldn’t you be? But that’s not who they are — to hang their heads and not compete.”
The Royals will be back in action Tuesday night. As fans voice their frustrations, the club knows a win will go a long way in generating support.
“This team means a lot,” Erceg said. “I know we are going to get through this. It just sucks right now.”
