Carter Jensen’s breakout season hit another milestone Saturday, even as the Royals came up short in Boston.
The Kansas City rookie launched his 24th homer of the year in the sixth inning against Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez, a swing that tied him with former Royals slugger Bob Hamelin for the most home runs by a rookie in franchise history. Jensen also kept his remarkable extra-base tear rolling.
His last 12 hits have all gone for extra bases, and since Sept. 1 he has piled up six doubles, a triple and five home runs. That stretch matches Hal McRae’s club mark from 1977.
Jensen added another line to the Royals’ record book with his 57th extra-base hit of the season, which ties him with Bobby Witt Jr. (2022) for the most by a Royals rookie. He finished 1 for 4, and his only hit accounted for Kansas City’s lone run in a 5-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The game turned in the sixth after Royals starter Randy Dobnak had worked through 5 and 2/3 innings and was one out away from another quality start. Boston had already gotten an RBI single from Adley Rutschman in the fourth, then Dobnak ran into trouble after retiring the first two batters of the sixth. Consecutive singles by Mickey Gasper and Rutschman ended his night and brought Matt Quatraro to the bullpen.
Quatraro turned to veteran left-hander Anthony Gose to face Wilyer Abreu, but Abreu drove a 96.2 mph fastball into the center-field gap for a two-run hit that put Boston in control. The Red Sox tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, while the Royals managed just one hit over the final three innings.
Garrett Whitlock struck out the side in the eighth for Boston, and Aroldis Chapman finished it off against his former team. Suarez earned the win, allowing one run on five hits while striking out eight.
The Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak and moved to 81-68. The Royals fell to 66-83.
The teams will meet again Sunday afternoon. Kansas City will send left-hander Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.93 ERA) to the mound against Boston lefty Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.15 ERA).
First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. Central Time.
In Other News...
Royals Finally Got An Encouraging Jac Caglianone Injury Sign
Jac Caglianone took a meaningful step forward this week by getting back on the field for batting practice, his first such session since suffering a Grade 1 flexor strain in his left elbow. For a Royals team tracking every update on his recovery, that alone counts as encouraging news, especially after he had been limited to the margins while working his way back from the injury.
Matt Quatraro struck a hopeful tone about where Caglianone stands, though he stopped short of saying whether the young hitter would be available to pinch-hit in the next game. Caglianone still has not resumed throwing with game intensity, but he did make several throws during batting practice, another sign that the rehab process is moving in the right direction as Kansas City waits for the next checkpoint. [Read more 🡒]
Seth Lugo Gave The Royals Something They Had Been Missing On The Road
Road games have been a grind for Kansas City for much of the season, so Seth Lugos night at Fenway Park stood out for more than just the result. The right-hander settled in after Boston put up some early pressure, held the Red Sox to two runs over five innings and picked up his seventh win in a 3-2 Royals victory. Kansas City also got an encouraging showing from rookie Carter Jensen, who doubled twice and scored twice, while the bullpen took care of the rest with scoreless work to close it out.
For a club that has needed more dependable starts away from home, Lugo gave them the kind of steady outing that can travel. The Royals are still well below .500 at 66-82, but this was the sort of win that can matter in a season like this, especially with a young lineup contributor like Jensen making his Fenway debut look comfortable and the relief corps protecting a slim lead against a Boston team that has now dropped three straight. [Read more 🡒]
Nate Pearson Is Giving The Royals A Bullpen Decision To Make
Nate Pearson arrived in Kansas City in late July with the kind of arm that can change the conversation in a bullpen, and he has spent the weeks since backing that up. In 21 innings for the Royals, the right-hander has allowed just one earned run and piled up 20 strikeouts, giving the club a late-season look at a power pitcher who has fit in quickly after coming over from Houston.
Pearsons immediate impact has also created an offseason decision the Royals will have to sort through. Kansas City controls him through the 2027 season, which gives the front office some flexibility, but it also raises the question of whether his recent work has made him a legitimate piece for next years bullpen rather than just a short-term arm added for depth. [Read more 🡒]