Randy Dobnak gave the Royals a chance, Carter Jensen kept the power surge rolling, and it still wasn’t enough. Kansas City fell to the Boston Red Sox, 5-1, after the bullpen let the game slip away late.
Dobnak’s final line looks solid on paper: one run allowed over 5.2 innings, with four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. But the damage came in the sixth, and that’s where the night turned.
With two outs, Matt Quatraro went to the only left-hander available in the bullpen, Anthony Gose, to face Wilyer Abreu. The move made sense on the surface, especially with Connor Thomas not having pitched in back-to-back games for KC this season.
But Gose allowed contact, and that contact turned into a two-run double that essentially put the game out of reach.
There’s some room to question the result, but not much room to pin it on Dobnak. His 5.2 innings and three runs allowed were just an out shy of a quality start, and for a pitcher in that spot, that’s about what the Royals can reasonably ask for. The bigger issue was what happened after he left.
Kansas City’s only run came in the top of the sixth on Carter Jensen’s one-out solo homer that curled around the Pesky Pole in right. It was the kind of swing that briefly changed the mood, and it came with a pile of history attached.
The blast set a new Royals franchise record for consecutive hits to go for extra bases, an expansion-era record for consecutive hits to go for extra bases by a catcher, and the same mark for a rookie. Jensen also tied Bob Hamelin for the Royals rookie home run record in a season with 24, and matched Bobby Witt Jr.’s Royals rookie record for extra-base hits in a season.
He didn’t add another hit, so the streak gets to live another day.
The Royals didn’t get much else going offensively. Jac Caglianone came off the bench to pinch-hit for Kyle Isbel in the bottom of the eighth and struck out. On the mound, Alex Lange and Easton McGee each surrendered a run in relief, and that was that.
Tomorrow afternoon’s game has already been pushed back a couple of hours because rain is expected in Boston. First pitch is now set for 2:05 Kauffman time. Noah Cameron, who carries a 3.93 ERA and 4.13 SIERA, is lined up to face Payton Tolle, who enters with a 3.15 ERA and 3.30 SIERA, in a left-on-left matchup that should be a good one if the weather cooperates.
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Royals Have 2 Obvious Offseason Fits For Their Biggest Lineup Flaw
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That is why the upcoming offseason could point them toward a couple of familiar offensive profiles in Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena. Both are entering their age-32 seasons and should be available in free agency, and both bring the kind of patience and run production that would fit a club trying to add more balance to its order. The fit makes sense on paper, even if the Royals will still have to decide how aggressively to chase it. [Read more 🡒]
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Jac Caglianone Is Back But Royals Still Have A Lineup Problem
Jac Caglianone is back in the Royals lineup, and that alone is a welcome development for a club trying to keep its offense moving. After recovering from a Grade 1 left elbow flexor strain, the slugger returned as the designated hitter against the Boston Red Sox, giving Kansas City another middle-of-the-order bat at a time when every bit of production matters. He has put together a strong season, hitting .282 with 23 home runs and 70 RBIs.
The catch is that his return does not fully solve the Royals bigger lineup puzzle. Matt Quatraro said the team is being careful with Caglianones throwing arm, which means DH work is expected to be shared with Salvador Perez rather than opening up the kind of flexibility Kansas City would like to have. The bat is back, but the roster still has to figure out how to maximize it without asking too much of his health. [Read more 🡒]