Final Score: CIN 1 | KC 13

Overall Record: 68-55

Winning/Losing Pitcher:

• W: Michael Wacha (10-6, 3.33 ERA)
• L: Nick Lodolo (9-5, 4.55 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Dairon Blanco

3-for-5, 2 HR, 7 RBIs

The man with the yellow crayon bat went to work against the Reds. Blanco got his night started with a bang in the second inning. He would hit a bomb over the center field fence to drive in himself and Freddy Fermin. Then in a seven-run third inning for the Royals, Blanco would slam a grand slam to start the rout fully. That wouldn’t be the last time Blanco would drive someone in as in the fourth he would single in Fermin. All of that production came early and Blanco didn’t need to do much more after that as the Royals dominated the Reds. The yellow crayon bat is putting up numbers for Blanco.

Key Highlights

The offense was the name of the game in this one as they scored 13 runs. It was a team effort as the Royals put up 15 hits, 6 walks, and 25 total bases as a squad. Vinnie Pasquantino would go 3-for-5 in this game with a RBI double, Freddy Fermin would have three runs scored while walking twice, and Hunter Renfroe had a two-hit game. It was again a team effort in this one.

The pitching was also superb in this one. Michael Wacha continues to lower his ERA closer to three with a 6-inning shutout. Wacha would add nine strikeouts and only allow four hits and one walk. The bullpen would also have a good day outside of Angel Zerpa. Zerpa would give up the only run to the Reds and continues to struggle in his recent outings. Chris Stratton and Carlos Hernandez would have scoreless outings.

Summary of the Next Game

With a series win already, the Royals will look for the sweep of the Reds in the next one. The Royals will send out Brady Singer (8-8, 3.32 ERA) and the Reds will send out Andrew Abbott (10-9, 3.59 ERA) to try and salvage a win.

Photo credit: Albert Cesare USA TODAY Sports