Final Score: BAL 4 | KC 3
Overall Record: 2-4
Winning/Losing Pitcher
W: Yennier Cano (1-0 | 0.00 ERA)
L: Will Smith (0-2 | 20.25 ERA)
BS: Will Smith (1)
Royals Player(s) of the Game
Cole Ragans: 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
Ragans once again showed that he is ready to live up to the preseason hype that he garnered. Through his first two starts in 2024, he has amassed 12.1 innings and 16 strikeouts, while allowing just a pair of runs and six hits. After an impressive opening-day performance, he looked even better in this game against an even better offense. The Orioles, who were in the top third of the league in batting average last season, were absolutely stifled by Ragans through the first six innings. After a pair of walks in the seventh, Ragans was relieved and picked up by James McArthur.
Salvador Perez: 3-4, 2 RBI
Salvy found a little bit of his magic at the plate in this one. Thanks to some heads-up base running (Vinnie Pasquantino getting to third while Bobby Witt Jr. was in a rundown in the first and Witt stealing second base in the third) Perez was able to drive in runs in both of his first two plate appearances. After an 0-7 start to his season, he has gone 9-17 in the last four games. The top half of the lineup (minus Pasquantino) has been red hot to start the year, and Perez has been a big part of that.
Other Highlights
Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. continue to be electric at the top of the order. Both collected a pair of hits, while Garcia notched his third long ball of the season (putting him just one shy of his entire 2023 total). The team has also upped the aggression on the basepaths. After not stealing a single base in the Minnesota series, they swiped seven bags in this series. While there should be plenty of pop in the lineup, guys like Witt, Garcia, and Kyle Isbel could allow this team to play a little bit of that small ball style that worked so well for them during their World Series runs a decade ago.
Summary of the Next Game
The Royals are back home tomorrow to start a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox. It will be Seth Lugo facing off against Michael Soroka. Lugo will look to build on his first start, where he went six scoreless innings and gave up just two hits.
