Royals’ bullpen falters as Red Sox earn series sweep: What went wrong at The K
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Michael Wacha delivered six strong innings but received a no decision in a 4-3 loss.
- Royals bullpen surrendered a seventh-inning go-ahead two-run homer to Jarren Duran.
- Kansas City went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
The Kansas City Royals are pretty confident whenever Michael Wacha’s turn approaches in the starting rotation.
The reason? Wacha is a model of consistency. Most times, he will provide a quality start that uplifts the entire team.
The Royals needed a quality start on Wednesday night. Wacha delivered six strong innings against the Boston Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium.
But the Royals’ troublesome bullpen relinquished a late lead: Red Sox star left fielder Jarren Duran hit a two-run homer and beat KC 4-3.
“Not the way we want to play right now ...” Royals star Salvador Perez said. “You know, nothing we can do about this one or the last three games. Tomorrow’s our off day. Hopefully, we can reset our minds and come back on Friday and play hard again.”
Boston (22-27) earned the series sweep. The Royals (20-30) are 14-34 against the Red Sox since the start of the 2018 season.
The Royals have lost nine of their last 10 games and have now lost 12 of 14 when facing left-handed starting pitching.
“People are frustrated, sure,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I mean, we don’t come out here and lose games and walk away feeling good about it.
“I mean, there’s no chance of that. So yeah, that’s being a big-leaguer, is being able to go turn the page and go compete the next time.”
Michael Wacha deals early
Wacha limited an aggressive Boston lineup to two runs (one earned) in his 10th start of the season.
He allowed six hits, issued two walks and struck out eight. His counterpart, Boston starter Connelly Early, pitched 6 1/3 innings and earned his fourth victory.
Wacha ran into some trouble in the second inning. He allowed an RBI single to Boston’s Nick Sogard and was charged with another run due to an error by KC second baseman Nick Loftin.
With the bases loaded, however, third baseman Maikel Garcia started a double play to negate a potential big inning. Wacha got the third out by retiring Red Sox shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
“Felt like we had a really good plan going into it and was able to execute, for the most part, that second inning,” Wacha said. “I wish I could have a couple of pitches back. Just execution wise, I felt like they were the right pitch; I just did not get them to the spot I wanted them to.”
Wacha limited the Red Sox throughout the remainder of his start. He also got a little more help from his offense.
After team captain Salvador Perez belted his 311th career homer in the first inning, fellow KC catcher Elias Diaz gave the Royals the lead. Diaz crushed a two-run homer off Red Sox left-handed starter Connelly Early in the fifth inning.
It was Diaz’s second home run with the Royals. But that lead wouldn’t last much longer once Wacha departed the game.
Duran’s homer gave the Red Sox the lead in the seventh. It also prevented Wacha (4-2) from earning a victory, instead saddling him with a no-decision. He owns a 2.70 ERA through 63 1/3 innings.
“It’s definitely a tough little stretch we have been going through here,” Wacha said. “But, you know, we’re all professionals and we’re all high-level competitors.”
Royals at the plate: a struggle
Despite the two homers, the Royals came up short at the plate. They had six hits but were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
Perez left a runner stranded at second in the third inning. And Royals designated hitter Starling Marte did the same with two runners aboard in the sixth.
In the ninth, the Royals had one more chance. After Carter Jensen saved a run from scoring with a diving tag at home plate in the top half of the frame, KC got the tying run into scoring position with one away.
With Marte standing on second base, Red Sox closer and former Royals reliever Aroldis Chapman retired pinch-hitter Lane Thomas and Garcia to end the game.
“It sucks getting swept and losing,” Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said. “We got an off-day tomorrow and just get back going.”
The Red Sox outscored the Royals 14-6 in this three-game series. KC hitters struck out eight times Wednesday.
And the Royals fell to an MLB-worst 4-12 in final games of series this season.
What’s next: The Royals are off Thursday before beginning a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 9:45 PM.
