How a costly error led to the Royals dropping Wednesday’s game vs. the Rays
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A throwing error by Jac Caglianone in the third inning allowed two Rays to score.
- Noah Cameron surrendered three earned runs in the third and lasted five innings.
- Royals went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
The Kansas City Royals entered Wednesday’s action looking to take firm control of their four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
The Royals won the first two games; the Rays were outscored 14-6 while not holding a lead once in the series.
On Wednesday, the Royals got behind early. A costly error and some well-timed execution doomed the Royals in a 5-3 loss.
In the third inning, the Rays scored two runs on an ill-advised throwing error from Royals first baseman Jac Caglianone. After loading the bases, the Rays were able to manufacture their offense against Royals starter Noah Cameron.
Rays outfielder Ryan Vilade hit a line drive toward Caglianone, who touched the first base bag to record an out. However, Caglianone tried to secure an additional out by throwing quickly to home plate.
His throw was offline as the baseball rolled past catcher Salvador Perez. It allowed Nick Fortes and Yandy Diaz to score.
“I mean, the throw got away,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He tried to throw on the run. You know, we get the ground ball and unfortunately it hits the runner. Yeah, just unfortunate. He’s trying to make a play and trying to do the best he can. Maybe a double play out of it. Unfortunately, the ball got away.”
Later, Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda added an RBI single. Cameron was charged with three earned runs in the frame.
Cameron was inefficient from the start. The Rays (44-33) made him work with prolonged at-bats throughout the night. Diaz opened the game with a 10-pitch at-bat and it helped to elevate Cameron’s pitch count.
At times, it seemed like Cameron couldn’t land his secondary pitches. The Rays swung at his curveball and changeup, but the pitches didn’t generate many whiffs.
“We wasted some fastballs,” Cameron said. “I think I was a little bit wild with the fastballs inside and up, obviously trying to get strikes in there. ... You know, hits finding holes.”
Cameron did enough to log five innings. However, he surrendered eight hits while walking three batters and registering five strikeouts.
“They hit the ball well today and they bunted it well,” Cameron said. “They had a couple little knocks there and timely hits for sure. And that’s when I obviously can’t let hits (be given) up.”
Meanwhile, the Rays added two more runs in the fourth inning. Diaz recorded an RBI single and outfielder Jonny DeLuca produced an RBI double.
The Royals (34-47) trailed 5-0 at that point. The offense got two runs back after the Rays committed two errors of their own.
Rays shortstop Taylor Walls booted a line drive from Caglianone. The misplay put runners on second and third base with Perez coming to the plate.
Perez would hit a line drive to Rays left-fielder Chandler Simpson. Yet, Simpson couldn’t corral the baseball as two runs scored.
The Royals scored a run in the ninth but wouldn’t draw any closer. The club finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight batters on base.
“We’ve been pretty good at it here, you know, I’d say the last six weeks or so,” Royals second baseman Michael Massey said of the club’s ability to hit with RISP. “It’s baseball, and you are not going to have it every night. You’re going to get some tough breaks and we’ll come back at them tomorrow.”
Rays starter Griffin Jax earned his third victory. He allowed two runs while striking out seven batters across five innings.
“He’s got some of the best stuff in the league,” Perez said of Jax. “His sweeper is 88-90 mph, changeup was 91-92 and his fastball was 97.”
In the ninth, Rays closer Bryan Baker earned the save.
What’s next: Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (3-4, 3.69 ERA) will start opposite Rays lefty Ian Seymour (3-1, 4.98 ERA) in the series finale. First pitch is set for 11:10 a.m. Central.
This story was originally published June 24, 2026 at 8:19 PM.
