Royals haunted by men left on base, poor RISP in series-ending road loss to A’s
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- Noah Cameron allowed five runs (four earned) and nine hits over five innings.
- Athletics produced a four‑hit second inning including doubles by Langeliers and Kurtz.
- Royals went 1‑for‑8 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base.
The Kansas City Royals were done in by another big inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
A day after starting pitcher Michael Wacha allowed three runs in a single inning, a similar scenario played out for fellow KC starter Noah Cameron on Thursday afternoon. Only this time, the Athletics turned four runs into a 6-3 win and series victory.
Cameron was missing around the strike zone in the second inning. The Athletics took advantage with four hits. A’s stars Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz recorded consecutive doubles to extend the inning.
Langeliers doubled into the left-field corner, driving in a run. He did his damage on Cameron’s 81 mph curveball. Next, Kurtz laced an 85.7 mph slider into the center-field gap. Cameron left that pitch in the middle of the strike zone.
Two runs scored to give the Athletics a two-run lead. The hosts added another run two batters later when Royals second baseman Nick Loftin was credited with a throwing error.
The Royals were suddenly staring at a 5-2 deficit.
Cameron managed to pitch five innings, but that gap was too great to overcome Thursday. The KC lefty, who was celebrating the anniversary of his MLB debut, exited after surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
The Royals jumped on A’s starter Jeffrey Springs early. He threw 30 pitches in the first inning as KC loaded the bases twice.
Starling Marte recorded an RBI single in the first inning. He finished 3-for-4 and his season batting average — now .303 — increased by 62 points. Marte and third baseman Maikel Garcia had multiple hits.
In the first inning, Garcia dodged an injury scare as a 106.5 mph line drive hit his left wrist. Royals manager Matt Quatraro and the KC training staff went out to check on him, but he stayed in the game.
Garcia proved his health was fine enough with a solo home run off Springs. He crushed a 75.2 mph sweeper over the left-field wall for his third homer of the season.
Springs surrendered both runs in three innings. He departed early with right-hip soreness and the A’s bullpen shut out the Royals the rest of the way.
The Royals finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and left 12 men on base. KC entered Thursday’s game hitting .224 in such situations.
In the eighth inning, Elias Diaz hit a solo homer off A’s reliever Brady Basso. It was his first home run as a Royal. But it wouldn’t be enough.
The Athletics outscored the Royals 12-9 in this series. The difference came in clutch performances: Kansas City didn’t get enough of them.
What’s next: The Royals will begin a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Friday night. Left-hander Cole Ragans (1-4, 5.00 ERA) will start opposite right-hander Bryan Woo (1-2, 3.86 ERA). First pitch is set for 8:45 p.m. Central Time.
