Royals’ offense erupts — and makes a little history — in finale win vs. Phillies
The Royals came to bat in the first trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by one run, and that seemingly made it an uphill battle against All-Star pitcher Cristopher Sanchez.
That hill was scaled immediately.
The Royals batted around, scored six runs and had more than enough to finish off the Phillies 15-1 and take the rubber game of the series on Monday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
Just about everyone got into the act for the Royals, who blasted four home runs and set season bests for runs and hits with 22.
For the second time in club history, the Royals scored in every inning. It first happened in 1998.
The battering started at the outset with first-inning RBI singles provided by Nick Loftin and Starling Marte after the Phillies blew a chance to end the frame by not completing a double play.
The big blow came from Luke Maile. In his first major league plate appearance this season, Maile, called up from Triple-A Omaha last week, pushed a Sanchez changeup to right center. The ball bounced off the top of the fence for a three-run homer.
In one inning, the Royals had reversed a trend and were well on their way to bucking more. They had scored more runs in the inning (six) then they had in any of the previous 11 games.
Also, the Royals had entered the game with the worst record (6-20) against left-handed starters, and owned baseball’s third-worst record (10-18) in series finales.
Solo home runs by Salvador Perez in the second and Lane Thomas in the fourth added to totals. Perez’s shot was career No. 314, leaving him three behind matching George Brett’s team career record.
When he left the game with one out in the fourth, Sanchez had surrendered career highs with nine runs and earned runs and three home runs.
The Royals’ bats stayed hot when they got into the Phillies’ bullpen. Tyler Tolbert belted his first home run — and extra base hit — of the season in the fifth. By then, the Royals had scored in every inning to build a 10-1 lead. Tolbert also recorded a five-hit game, the first by a Royals player since Hunter Dozier in 2022.
Monday wasn’t the first time the Royals have knocked around Sanchez, who entered the game leading baseball in wins above replacement by baseball-reference.com. In his only other start against the Royals, in 2023, Sanchez surrendered six earned runs in five innings.
The Phillies’ frustrations grew. In the sixth inning, Kyle Schwarber was tossed from the game by home plate umpire Alan Porter after striking out for the third time.
Royals starter Noah Cameron scuffled early throwing 58 pitches in the first two innings before settling down for a seven-strikeout performance.
Up next: The Royals hit the road to take on the New York Mets in a three-game series starting Tuesday. Seth Lugo will start the opener that begins at 6:10 p.m. Central. After three in New York, the Royals visit the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game series that will take them into the All-Star break.