Final Score: STL 8 | KC 5

Overall Record: 64-53

Winning/Losing Pitcher

• W: Matthew Libertore (3-3 | 4.76 ERA)
• L: Will Smith (0-4 | 4.38 ERA)
• S: Ryan Helsley (37 | 2.66 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Michael Massey

3-4, 2 RBI, R

In a truly crappy outcome for the Royals in this one, they can take some solace in that it looks like they found their leadoff hitter moving forward. Since moving to the leadoff spot, he has been quite good. Getting five hits in his past three games with few very important walks as well? That’s all you can ask for from a hitter who hasn’t really found his place in the lineup. Looks like he might have found it now. If he can develop into a legitimate leadoff hitter it will be terrifying for pitchers to have to face him, then Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie, and then Salvy to round out that top four. That is disgusting IF Massey can continue this, and continue to grow. We’ll see how this experiment keeps going, but for what it’s worth he’s earned the spot. And no one should take it away from him until he shows he shouldn’t be there anymore. He just adds another cog in the clock to keep the thing ticking. I think it has an opportunity to really show us the kind of player Michael Massey is. 

Key Highlights

The evening got kicked off with a Wilson Contreras two-run bomb off Michael Lorenzen, two old NL Central foes that have seen each other many times. Contrearas gets the best of him here, taking the lead in the first inning. Alec Burleson adds on with a solo homer of his own in the top of the third. The Royals weren’t down for long though, with the bottom of the lineup showing up early in this one. After a Maikel Garcia single, Kyle Isbel hit a ringing triple to start the Royals scoring. With the aforementioned, Michael Massey, driving him in with a single of his own. After Massey advances to second on a key hit and run to not get thrown out, Salvador Perez brings him home to tie the game at three, and we have a brand new ballgame. 

The Royals get right back to it in the fourth, with Maikel Garcia bringing home MJ Melendez on a double up the right field line. Garcia advances to third on a single by Kyle Isbel, and Michael Massey gets Garcia home on a sacrifice fly to make the score now 5-3. 

Lucas Erceg had a pretty great outing in this one, but is overshadowed by him maybe being put in the game at the wrong time. I think that manager Matt Quatraro is still trying to figure out the bullpen. But after tonight, I doubt we see him before the eighth inning moving forward. 

After the Cardinals add another run in the sixth, we head to the eighth where it gets interesting. Will Smith comes in and immediately gives up a double, groundout, and then walk, putting runners on the corners with only one out. He then exits the game, leaving us with Chris Stratton and a dream. There is then a grounder hit to Maikel Garcia at third and he has a quick bobble, but holds the runner at third. Quick turn to second for one, and on the first…safe. On a bang bang play that ended up going to review, but still no run scored. So only one more out for Chris Stratton against a rookie who is 0-4. But he gives up a double to Victor Scott II into the corner, scoring both runs and giving St. Louis the lead 6-5. An absolute gut punch for a team that thought they got out of it with a double play, and even did everything right to not score a run there. Still have to come through in the big moments, and tip your cap to Victor Scott who was better than Stratton tonight. The Royals tried to strike in the eighth, with Dairon Blanco making it to second base as the tying run. He is stranded, leaving the Royals empty handed but still with some energy headed to the ninth. The most infuriating part of the night? Angel Zerpa absolutely nuking the momentum that was left, giving up a second homer of the night to Wilson Contreras, who hits it a MILE over the visitors bullpen. All the energy just let out of the bag, virtually ending the Royals night. They had some fight in the ninth, but that was killed by themselves again. With Vinnie Pasquantino grounding into a double play to end the game. Just a crushing blow to this team that really needs to buckle up the straps and get to work. Especially with Cleveland losing twice today and Boston also losing ground, it was tough to see the Royals let this one get away. But the most important thing for the Royals is to not let this get them into a slump. They could easily let this turn into a big losing streak, but they just need to shake it off and go win one tomorrow. You can only control what you can control right now, and you need to take care of business, so let’s get it on Saturday. I think the most surprising thing of the night was honestly that the offense still scored five without any of their main producers producing. No Witt, Vinnie, or Renfroe doing anything tonight which would’ve been the great takeaway with a W tonight. But since they didn’t win, it will go for naught and we now have to talk about them not producing in the big moments. This can all be mended with a victory on Saturday, so hopefully they can take care of business.

Summary of the Next Game

The Royals continue their two game bout against their in-state Rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. Michael Wacha takes the bump to try and even this series and get some momentum headed into the Minnesota series next week. He has been remarkable his last seven starts back from the injured list, going 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA. Opposed will be Andre Pallante, a solid righty from STL, who has been at least consistent for the Cards this year. His ERA is at 4.43 but don’t let that fool you, he has been one of the better starters for STL this year. The 2024 I-70 series ends tomorrow, and I can’t wait to see it play out in person. 6:10p at Kauffman Stadium for what should be a pretty packed house. Let’s go get this win, to win the season series against the Redbirds.

Image Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports