Lugo Masterful as Royals Win 5th in a Row

Record: 13-14

Winning/Losing Pitcher:

W: Seth Lugo (2-3 | 3.08 ERA)

L: Hunter Wesneski (1-2 | 3.86 ERA)

S: Lucas Erceg ( 1 | 0.87 ERA) 

Key Highlights

This one was a pitcher’s masterclass throughout. Does that have to do with the Royals and Astros ability to score runs in general? Maybe… but, I will always take a close ballgame any day of the week. Hunter Wesneski was looking solid, gave up some hits here and there but got out of it most of the time. Bobby Witt Jr. was his main problem, as Bob collected two hits against him. But he would put some runners on, and just get out of it. Pretty impressed by his performance honestly. The Astros have been successful producing arms, and it looks like they crafted another good one. He did do just enough to break the scoreless tie. After Drew Waters lead the inning off with a double (we’ll get to him in a second), Freddy Fermin is able to move him over. Kyle Isbel sacrifice fly on a close play at the plate and the Royals take the lead. 

They get back to back hits off Wesneski in the sixth off the bat of Vinnie and Maikel, and the Astros take him out. This lets Vinnie score on a Hunter Renfroe sacrifice fly and the boys are now up 2-0 with Seth Lugo cruising on the mound. Back to Waters, who had a really tough few games after the call-up, but really has been putting it together the past few games on this win streak. I’ll confidently say that I don’t think the streak is this long without Waters. Two more doubles in Friday’s effort? There is nothing more that you can ask of him, and while he continues to play like this: he shouldn’t miss a single game. Find a way to keep him in, he’s hot. Lugo was fantastic in eight strong and I’ll get to him shortly. But Lucas Erceg closing the door in the ninth will always excite me. Just pure filth and gas. Didn’t seem like a competition to those hitters and he locks it down for the Royals fifth win in a row! Keep the line moving and let’s start adding above .500 soon. 

Royals Player of the Game

Seth Lugo

8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 8 Ks, BB

Let’s be simple here. Seth Lugo was excellent, exciting, and effortless all night long on Friday. Eight *shutout* innings, under 100 pitches, and I’m sure if it wasn’t a two run game he would’ve gone out for the ninth. He had full control of the strike zone, just surprising all the Astros hitters and mixing their timing. 

We’ve seen how Seth Lugo can be when he’s really slinging it, and I’ll tell you. I don’t think there’s a better engineer of the zone when he’s on. With his pitch mix, it’s virtually unstoppable if he’s hitting his spots. And the Astros were just uncomfortable all night long. Like three hits the whole game and two of them were from the same guy. Maybe the best start of Lugo’s KC career? Some are saying. Sit back and put it into perspective as well how important he is to this team. The Royals “overpaid” for a guy that had never been a starter before and he has become an anchor of your organization. Anyway, Lugo was masterful, and this Royals team really will need him to keep shoving like this to get back over the .500 hump. 

Summary of the Next Game: 

The Royals will try to make it six in a row as they send Michael Wacha to the mound to keep the streak going. The Astros will send Framber Valdez to the bump, to try to make his 2025 a bit better. I think both of these pitchers are due for a duel, and considering the game that we had tonight I think we might be on for that. We’re back at the ballpark at 6:10p for another one against the ‘stros. Keep the line moving in the win department gentlemen.