Final Score: KC 10 | COL 1
Overall Record: 49-43
Winning/Losing Pitcher
- W: Brady Singer (5-5 | 2.93 ERA)
- L: Tanner Gordon (0-1 | 7.11 ERA)
Royals Player(s) of the Game
Bobby Witt Jr
3-5, HR (15) 3 RBI
What else can you say about this player? If it wasn’t for Gunnar Henderson having the year he’s having, this dude would be starting in the All-Star game for the American League. Kansas City has a superstar in the baseball world now. And everyone knows that he is this good, that is now not a question. But what he is doing is becoming one of the best players in the league right now, and moving forward. He is one of the youngest players in his peak, and to stack on top of that, you don’t even talk about peak until age 27, 28, maybe..? And he just turned 24 years old. I can’t wait to see what Bobby Witt Jr matures into on the baseball field throughout his career. He’s batting .324 on the season. That is ridiculous. He is built different.
Brady Singer
7.0 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 Ks
Brady truly had the Rockies guessing all afternoon. He was getting ahead of damn near every hitter he was facing, and then embarrassing them by making them swing at something out of the strike zone. He had major control while he went up and down the Rockies lineup. The only time he was hit was the seventh inning where a couple two out hits scored a run. Other than that, he was spectacular. Taking advantage of the Rockies’ timidness on offense, Singer was able to make his slider the most effective during his issue innings. Getting out of jams with that slider was crucial for his duration of his start. He was able to go seven full innings strong, only using 86 pitches throughout his entire start. He was able to get some soft, confused contact leading to his seven strikeouts as well. Brady lowers his ERA below three at 2.93 for the season. If this team wants to continue to stay in it this year, I do believe he’s important. And they should not get rid of him… at least this season.
Key Highlights
This one was pretty quiet offensively early on. And Tanner Gordon made it through his first major league inning unscathed. It changed in the top of the second, when the Royals got three straight hits. Starting the rally with Salvador Perez, who gets his 1,500 career hit.
Which is another milestone for our catcher who is hopefully on his way to his 9th all-star selection. The third one being an RBI single by Freddy Fermin scoring Salvy from second base. Then up to the plate comes the struggling Maikel Garcia, who had been benched earlier this week, and now has been pushed down the lineup to the eight spot. he comes through in a big way taking a hanging changeup over the left field wall for three-run shot to make it a 4-0 lead.
Very important day for Maikel, who saw the ball pretty well, going 2-3 with a walk. That was it for the Royals offense against the righty, Gordon, who had a pretty solid first career start on the mound. Before Tanner Gordon left, MJ Melendez gave him a parting gift with a solo homer over the right field wall.
You’d have to think MJ would hit like a maniac if he played at Coors Field regularly. The eighth was started by Bobby Witt Jr. getting his second infield hit of the game, beating out an absolute crazy play by Ezekiel Tovar. Only Bobby’s speed was getting there on that one. After Salvy grounds into a fielders choice, Michael Massey comes through with a single that gets up the gut scoring Witt Jr. Freddy Fermin once again comes through with a sac fly to make the lead 7-1.
Leading the bullpen a lead after Brady Singer’s excellent start. Angel Zerpa held up his end of the bargain, only allowing one baserunner in his scoreless bottom of the eighth. In the top of the ninth, the Royals just kept adding to their lead. With Bobby Witt Jr. truly showing how he’s a five tool player. Hitting a three-run jack to extend the lead to nine. This lead to what some of us have been waiting for a long time now, 15 months to be specific. Kris Bubic makes his season debut.
He went down early last season with Tommy John surgery, so it was nice to see him back on the hill. Kris Bubic is back, striking out two in his scoreless inning of work. it is so exciting to see a picture that we have been waiting for for a while. Come back and be as good as he was out of the bullpen. I know it was a 10-1 game, but it’s important to get confidence early. losing in Colorado ideal, but they were able to get the office back on Sunday. Let’s hope that they can continue this rally moving into the games moving forward, because they will need it. They have had a lot of issues on offense and hopefully they can have all the cogs mesh together in St. Louis.
All Star Selections:
Salvador Perez (9th)
Seth Lugo (1st)
Cole Ragans (1st)
Bobby Witt Jr. (1st)
Briefly following the Royals game on Sunday, Major League baseball announced the all-star selections for the 2024 All-Star game. The Royals were able to have four named to the game, with three first time all-stars. Salvador Perez goes for the ninth time, making it the second most times in franchise history. Second only to George Brett who had 12 all star appearances. The surprise here for me is Cole Ragans, who was able to go back to Texas where he was traded from last year, to represent the Royals.
What a turnaround for the lefty that has been one of the top young arms in the game so far in his career. Seth Lugo has been incredible this season and hopefully he can get enough traction to become the All-Star starter, we’ll see how the schedule works out, but he leads the American League in two of the three Cy Young categories. Lastly, Bobby Witt Jr. is cementing himself has a top five player in all of baseball. This kid is incredible, he can be the best at every part of his game. But everyone knows that, so all we can say is congrats to these gentlemen, and we can’t wait to see how they represent our hometown Royals.
Summary of the Next Game
The Royals have Monday off, but starting Tuesday they have a date with their cross-state rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Former Cardinal, Michael Wacha will take the hill for the Royals who has been very good his last few times out, maintaining a 2.21 ERA his last seven starts. The Cardinals will send out righty Andre Pallante, who’s been a decent option for them this year. Keeping a 4.00 ERA while receiving consistent regular starting duties for the first time in his career. The stage is set for Wacha to return to St. Louis. So let’s see what this I-70 series has in store. We’ll start this one on Tuesday at 6:45 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
