Final Score: KC 8 | CIN 1

Overall Record: 69-55

Winning/Losing Pitcher

• W: Brady Singer (9-8 | 3.18 ERA)
• L: Andrew Abbott (10-10 | 3.72 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Dairon Blanco

2-3, HR (4), 2 R, RBI

Although you could totally put a couple different people on this one including Lucas Erceg or Vinnie Pasquantino, I think Dairon deserves his flowers once again. Because in actuality, he put the nail in the coffin early on. Also, it serves as a bit of an award for the whole series, cause he balled out on Players Weekend. There is something to the energy a bench guy brings to the team once they blow up and play very well. The energy was overflowing from Saturday’s contest, to Sunday’s matinee. Where Dairon Blanco hit another home run. His third in two days, while using that magical yellow crayon as a bat. I let out an audible scream when it left his bat, knowing that he hit the promised land once again. He also had an infield single in this one, pushing a bunt to the right side and beating the first baseman to the bag. That’s the explosive speed we know about, but then he hits a homer in the 5th and everyone goes crazy. He is seeing the ball well, and it’s good to see a guy like Dairon Blanco carry this power into a second straight game. His energy definitely motivated the monster ninth inning in this one, with the other outfielders on the team coming through. They look at Dairon playing well and think: “well I have to step it up if I want to keep my spot”, and that is the incredible thing about this competitive team. They rival each other to be better every day. You need players like Dairon on your team, and this series proved that tenfold. 

Key Highlights

This one started off pretty quiet in this one until a rain delay kept the game at halt for 45 minutes. 

After the rain exited at that time, Brady Singer went back on the mound and took control of this game. He ends up going six strong not allowing one run. He had the slider moving today. Mixing up hitters with the rotation, and constantly getting people to bite on pitches out of the zone. The Royals starting pitching staff was outstanding against the Reds this weekend. Going 13.2 IP and only giving up one run, on Friday. As for the Royals offense, Vinnie Pasquantino added two more to his impressive second half RBI total with an RBI single in the 3rd, and a sacrifice fly in the 5th. 

Salvador Perez also had a sacrifice fly of his own in the third. And the story of the weekend: Dairon Blanco hit ANOTHER home run. His third homer in two games helped propel the Royals in this one. Leading the Royals to a 4-0 lead after five. The Reds got one back in the 7th after Sam Long walked three in a row to let one in. He was then relieved by Lucas Erceg, who strikes out the next two batters to get out of the bases loaded jam. A huge break for the Royals, as Erceg strikes out Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer, the Reds 2-3 hitters. Erceg thought that wasn’t enough so he came out for the 8th and had a scoreless frame there as well. He finishes his outing by striking out four over his inning and two thirds. In the top of the ninth the Royals offense just jumped Reds pitcher, Casey Legumia. Freddy Fermin singled, then Michael Massey got his third hit of the game, which is music to my ears. MJ Melendez joins the party and has an RBI single, then Kyle Isbel doubles up the right field line driving in one more. 

Funny what will happen when a bench guy has a HUGE series on the road. Bobby Witt Jr. then notched his 500th career hit to drive in Kyle Isbel. Bobby is the second youngest player in franchise history to achieve that feat. Can’t wait for many many more. 

Vinnie adds to his already impressive weekend, with another RBI single to put the Royals up 8-1 in the ninth. Talk about killing any momentum the Reds had left. James McArthur closes it down in the process and the Royals have a 4-2 road trip as the head back home. The Royals got their away record over .500 in this one, now at 31-30 on the road. Thankfully they’re headed back to Kauffman Stadium where they have a six game homestand.

Summary of the Next Game

Home sweet home. The Royals head back to Kansas City to start a three game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. After a great road trip, the Royals will be back home where they play their best. The Angels have struggled this year, and recently found out superstar Mike Trout, is now out for the season. The Angels will send Carson Fulmer to the mound. Who has bounced around the league in his career and has been in LA for the past couple years. He’s starting for them now after being used out of the bullpen primarily in the beginning of the season. In his six starts this year, he has a 4.82 ERA over 28.1 innings pitched. As for Kansas City, they send out All-Star Seth Lugo. Who is looking to bounce back after a start he’d like to forget in Minnesota, giving up seven earned runs last Tuesday evening. His ERA is in the threes for the first time this season at 3.04, which is incredible when you think about it. The Royals need to continue their march to the postseason and Seth Lugo is a big part of that. So he’ll hopefully continue the Royals winning ways on Monday at 7:10p at Kauffman Stadium.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/TNS