Final Score: OAK 7 | KC 5

Overall Record: 41-33

Winning/Losing Pitcher:

• W: Hogan Harris (1-0, 2.37 ERA)
• L: Alec Marsh (5-4, 4.37 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Nick Loftin

1-for-3, 1st career homerun, 3 RBI’s

After 163 plate appearances in the majors Nick Loftin lofted his first career shot against the Athletics. It came early in the second inning to tie the game at two. He also drove in a third run in the eighth by grounding out. It wasn’t enough however as Alec Marsh gave up five more runs before he left the game. Loftin hasn’t shown a ton of power this season with two extra base hits on the season, but maybe this could spark something.

Key Highlights

The Royals offense struggled in this game with runners in scoring position going 0-for-8 on the night. The only hit that drove in runs without giving up an out was Loftin’s two-run shot. The other runs were driven in by groundouts. The Royals just couldn’t string hits together to get a big inning going. Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez, and Freddy Fermin all had solid nights getting on-base. Vinnie got another walk in the game to continue his “walk” streak to seven games.

The pitching wasn’t great to start, Marsh didn’t seem to have his stuff tonight after a great start against the Yankees his last go around. After Marsh left the game, however, the bullpen kept the Royals in the game. The bullpen had five innings of no-run ball while only giving up four hits. Combined they also racked up five strikeouts and walked none. Marsh may have gotten swamped, but the bullpen got out of the swamp to keep the Royals in it.

Summary of the Next Game

With the Royals needing to win more than they lose in the next 50 games, weaker part of the schedule, it isn’t ideal to lose the first game of that stretch. The Royals will send out Cole Ragans (4-4, 3.14 ERA) to counter Luis Medina (0-2, 5.87 ERA) in game two of the series.

Photo credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports