How the Royals’ bullpen cratered, again, in extra-inning loss at Cincinnati Reds
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- Royals used small-ball in the fourth inning to take an early three-run lead.
- Erceg blew his third straight save; Reds won 4-3 on a 10th-inning walk-off.
- Noah Cameron tied a career high with seven scoreless innings and eight strikeouts.
The Kansas City Royals have searched for ways to ignite their offense.
They might’ve found a potential spark on Tuesday in Cincinnati ... although it was washed away in a 4-3 loss to the Reds in 10 innings at Great American Ball Park.
The Royals utilized a small-ball approach in the fourth inning and it led to a 3-0 lead. Starting pitcher Noah Cameron was brilliant, too, save for a solo home run — he struck out eight batters in seven innings of one-hit baseball.
One day after Kansas City succeeded in halting a six-game losing streak, the bullpen was the culprit again. Handed a 3-2 lead in the ninth, closer Lucas Erceg gave up a tying home run to pinch-hitter Will Benson.
“Didn’t execute the pitch I wanted,” Erceg told reporters in Cincinnati. “It wasn’t necessarily the wrong pitch, but location is what inevitably always gets you. ... Things have been going horrible for me. I feel bad for the guys because it’s been a little bit of a tough season so far for us. We expect better, and I expect better for myself.”
It was Erceg’s third consecutive blown save, following one at home against the New York Yankees on May 25 and another on the road against the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
In the 10th inning against the Reds on Tuesday, with Spencer Steer at second base to begin the inning, Reds outfielder Blake Dunn hit an RBI single off right-hander John Schreiber to win it.
Schreiber had come on to relieve Erceg and took the loss in relief.
The Royals fell to 23-38. They will seek a road series victory on Wednesday night.
Cincinnati improved to 31-29.
Royals’ offense strikes early
Royals captain Salvador Perez began the visitors’ big fourth inning with a leadoff single.
Starling Marte moved him over with a bunt single. This led to a run-scoring opportunity and Jac Caglianone recorded an RBI groundout.
Two batters later, Michael Massey worked a lengthy at-bat, fouling off several offerings. He battled Reds starter Andrew Abbott across nine pitches before swatting a two-run single up the middle.
Since April 21, Massey is hitting .277 with five homers and 16 RBIs.
Abbott labored in the fourth inning. He threw 31 pitches and was charged with all three runs as the Royals sent nine batters to the plate.
“It was a productive inning,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said in Cincinnati. “Massey’s at-bat was incredible. It might’ve been a nine or 10-pitch at-bat, single up the middle against a lefty. Obviously, put us in a good spot at that point.”
Prior to Tuesday’s action, KC was just 2-13 against left-handed starting pitchers. Abbott settled for a no-decision after allowing four walks across 105 pitches.
Career night for Noah Cameron
Royals starter Noah Cameron had a career night on the road.
He retired 21 of 22 batters he faced and kept the Reds off the scoreboard — minus one mistake.
Cameron’s seven innings tied his career high and he struck out eight. He didn’t allow a walk and threw 67 of 81 pitches for strikes. Steer’s solo homer came in the fifth inning.
“It was a phenomenal outing from him,” Quatraro said of Cameron. “One hit, one homer and seven strong. Of course, I thought it was as good as you could ask for.”
Per Baseball Savant, Cameron registered 44 swings and 17 called strikes. He evenly distributed his two fastballs and off-speed pitches. And his curveball was effective, as it generated four whiffs on five swings.
“That’s the first time he has gone seven this year,” Quatraro said. “He was in control, but we thought that was the right time to get him out (of the game) with the guys we have available.”
The Royals’ bullpen was shaky before Erceg served up the game-tying homer that sent it to extras. Steer belted his second homer of the night in the eighth off KC left-hander Matt Strahm.
The Royals left the go-ahead run stranded in the 10th and Cincinnati took advantage for the comeback victory. The Royals suffered another crushing defeat and are now 16-15 in 2026 when their pitcher tosses a quality start.
Royals’ roster updates
The Royals recalled right-handed pitcher Beck Way from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.
Way had a 4.50 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 30 minor-league innings. He was acquired from the Yankees in 2022 — he was involved in the trade that sent Andrew Benintendi to New York at the MLB deadline.
In a corresponding move Tuesday, the Royals optioned Eli Morgan to the minors.
What’s next: Right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-1, 3.48 ERA) will start Wednesday’s series finale against Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park. He will oppose Reds veteran RHP Chris Paddack (0-7, 6.90 ERA), with first pitch set for 6:10 p.m. Central Time.
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 9:24 PM.
