The Kansas City Royals found a way to get back in front in Pittsburgh, and still couldn’t close the door.
For the third straight game, the bullpen gave away a late lead, and the Royals fell 4-3 to the Pirates. It was the same ugly script again: a starter who gave them a chance, a late offensive push, and then another ending that slipped straight through their fingers.
Michael Wacha battled through 5.2 innings and kept the Royals afloat for most of the afternoon. He allowed four hits and two runs, walked four and struck out five while throwing 113 pitches. That was enough to give Kansas City a shot, and for a while, the lineup did its part.
The Royals struck first in the top of the opening inning. Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone opened with back-to-back one-out singles, setting up Salvador Perez with runners on the corners. Perez delivered with a single to center, putting Kansas City ahead 1-0.
That lead held until Oneil Cruz started the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer to even things up. Wacha then worked into the sixth before the inning unraveled. After getting two quick outs, he issued back-to-back walks, and Spencer Horwitz followed with a blooped go-ahead single that made it 2-1 Pittsburgh.
Kansas City answered in the seventh. John Rave dropped down a bunt single to third and later scored when Vinnie Pasquantino, pinch hitting, launched a go-ahead two-run homer. Suddenly the Royals were back on top, 3-2.
That edge didn’t last either.
Nate Pearson handled the eighth for Kansas City and immediately ran into trouble. Ryan O’Hearn led off with a single, and Rafael Flores Jr. then crushed a long two-run homer to put Pittsburgh back in front 4-3.
The Royals had one last chance in the ninth. With two outs, Luke Maile doubled off the wall in right and moved to third on a fielding error by Jake Mangum. Isaac Collins pinch hit for Kyle Isbel, but he weakly flied out to right, ending it.
Kansas City finished its final road trip of the season 2-7. The Royals are now 28-53 away from home and 67-89 overall. They’re off tomorrow before returning home to face the White Sox and Guardians next week to close out the season.
In Other News...
Blake Mitchell Still Has One Big Obstacle In Royals Rise
Blake Mitchell keeps giving the Royals reasons to believe the bat can play. The top prospect helped Quad City win the Midwest League championship with a key two-run homer, a reminder of the kind of impact he can bring when he squares one up. Even with the obvious power and the on-base skills that have followed him through the minors, he has already shown enough thump to stay in the conversation as one of the organizations most important young hitters.
The bigger question is whether the approach will let the rest of that profile catch up. Mitchell has dealt with a high strikeout rate throughout his minor league career, and that one issue could end up shaping how quickly he moves toward Kansas City. If he starts making more contact, the Royals may have the kind of middle-of-the-order power bat they have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]
Royals End Road Trip With Another Bullpen Letdown
A pinch-hit two-run homer from Vinnie Pasquantino put the Royals in front 3-2 and gave them a chance to close out the road trip on a high note, but the margin did not hold. Michael Wacha did his part with 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball and five strikeouts, and Kansas City had enough early offense to at least feel positioned well against the Pirates.
Instead, the late innings turned again on the Royals relief group, as Nate Pearson surrendered a two-run homer to Rafael Flores Jr. in the eighth. Pittsburghs 4-3 win finished off the sweep and left Kansas City searching for answers after another game slipped away after the starter exited. [Read more 🡒]