Carter Jensen keeps turning his hometown opportunity into something bigger for the Royals.
On Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, the rookie catcher made franchise history in a 9-6 loss to the Marlins, belting his sixth leadoff home run of the season to set a single-season club record. The shot came in the first inning against Miami starter Eury Perez and traveled 414 feet into the Royals’ bullpen. It was also Jensen’s 20th home run of the calendar year.
Jensen wasn’t done there. He added another homer in the fourth inning, again against Perez, to finish 2-for-4 and record his 21st long ball of the season. It marked his second career multi-homer game.
The Royals jumped on Miami early and put up five runs in the first inning. Jac Caglianone doubled in a run, and Salvador Perez followed with a two-run homer, his 321st career home run with the organization.
Even with the early burst, Jensen was the story. The KCMO product has taken on a major role this season as the primary catcher while Salvador Perez nurses a sore elbow. Through 83 starts behind the plate, Jensen is hitting .252 with 77 hits in 305 at-bats and 38 extra-base hits.
“Really impressive,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said pregame. “Especially for a rookie, doing what he is doing at the top of the order. And he should be proud of what he’s done, the work he’s put in and the success he’s had.”
Jensen moved into the leadoff spot in late May after making two starts there last season, and the assignment has fit. He’s hitting .276 when leading off games and has enjoyed hitting in front of Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals still had a chance to keep pace, but Miami answered in the middle innings. Heriberto Hernandez drove in the go-ahead run with his second RBI double of the game in the sixth off Royals lefty Connor Thomas, part of a three-run frame that swung the game back to the Marlins.
Miami also got a third-inning homer from Kyle Stowers, his 18th of the season, along with RBIs from Griffin Conine and Jared Serna. The Marlins then added two more insurance runs in the ninth on solo home runs by Javier Sanoja and Jakob Marsee.
Noah Cameron took a no decision for Kansas City after allowing four earned runs and striking out seven over five innings.
The loss dropped the Royals to 62-78. Miami improved to 71-69 and will go for a road sweep Thursday at Kauffman Stadium.
Royals right-hander Michael Wacha, 8-8 with a 3.32 ERA, is set to face Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, 13-8 with a 3.46 ERA, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Central.
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Instead, the Marlins chipped away, took advantage of Royals mistakes and kept stacking timely hits until the game tilted their way late in a 9-6 loss. It was an especially frustrating outcome because the Royals had enough encouraging signs to suggest the pieces were there, only to watch Miamis bullpen and a steady offensive push erase the cushion and leave Kansas City searching for a much cleaner finish. [Read more 🡒]