Image Credit: AP Photo / Charlie Riedel

Final Score: MIA 1 | KC 5

Overall Record: 44-38

Winning/Losing Pitcher

W: Angel Zerpa (1-0 | 3.41 ERA)
L: Huascar Brazoban (0-1 | 5.63 ERA)

Royals Player(s) of the Game

Brady Singer: 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 5 K

I know you guys were starting to worry since one of my recaps didn’t feature a pitcher as a Player of the Game. Well, worry no longer. Singer pitched a gem in the series finale to help the Royals take two out of three from the Marlins. Anytime a starting pitcher has the same amount of strikeouts as he has hits allowed, he’s pitched a REALLY good game. Singer lowered his ERA to 3.12 on the season and continues to be a key cog in the great starting rotation of the Royals.

Vinnie Pasquantino: 2-4, 1 RBI

Vinnie drove in the Royals’ first run of the game in the eighth inning, which ended up leading to four more runs to break the game open. Following a Bobby Witt Jr triple with two outs, Pasquantino failing to reach base may very well have led to the Royals losing the game and losing the eighth game in their last 10. Instead, Pasquantino delivered and sparked the offense late in the game.

Other Highlights

Hunter Renfroe and Freddy Fermin also collected a pair of hits each, while both played big roles in the eighth inning rally. Renfroe walked to load the bases with two outs and Fermin drove the final two runs of the game in just three pitches later.

The bullpen did their job in the little amount of time they were asked to cover. After Singer went 7.1 innings, Angel Zerpa and James McArthur closed the door on the Marlins to end the game.

Summary of the Next Game

The Royals start a crucial four-game series against the division-leading Guardians on Thursday. The Royals will be, at worst, just a half game back of the final Wild Card spot in the AL. A series win would move them at least three games closer to the top of the division and likely into one of the three Wild Card spots. Michael Wacha will take the mound in the first game, squaring off against Ben Lively.