Final Score: CLE 3 | KC 10

Overall Record: 46-38

Winning/Losing Pitcher

• W: Alec Marsh (6-5 | 4.19 ERA)
• L: Triston McKenzie (3-5 | 5.11 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Alec Marsh

6.0 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks

It’s so important that Alec Marsh was able to go out there and absolutely shove on Friday night. We’ve been saying it the whole week that this was the most important series the Royals have played in almost a decade. The division leading Guardians in town with one of the hotter offenses in baseball the last bit, it’s crucial to have a solid start on the mound. And Alec Marsh made sure that happened with six innings of one run baseball, with some smart pitching through and through. That’s the most impressive thing of the whole night, is that he understood the situation the whole time. Knew he could pitch to contact and trust his defense at spots, and then knew when to blow it past them. Also, how bout the cajones to throw 98 down the pipe to Jose Ramirez to strike him out in the fourth? Seems like Marsh was coming out to say: I’m not scared to pitch anymore. Hopefully we see him continue to grow throughout the season, and continue to refine the great start he’s had half way through the season.

Key Highlights

I think the only reason that no one on offense is Player of the Game is because they were so balanced on offense tonight, and pitching was going to be more important. Against a team like that, an offense like that, the pitching will reign supreme. Not to say the Cleveland offense is unstoppable, but they are high in a lot of categories. To start with the action, we have Salvador Perez starting the offense off with a toledo shot into the shrubbery next to the fountain. Then, Hunter Renfroe hits a crazy high pitch to the opposite field for another solo home run. We have back to back jacks in the bottom of the second! 

We move now to the bottom of the third where a Maikel Garcia single and Bobby Witt Jr intentional walk, has turned into runners on the corners for Vinnie Pasquantino. Who rips it right past the first baseman Josh Naylor, and there are runners on the corners again for Salvador Perez. Salvy hits the worst low changeup, that only Salvy can hit into left to continue the rally making the score now 4-1. MJ Melendez will get in on the action and squirt it right past the shortstop for an infield single. But they keep the line moving making it now 5-1. Along the way we get a Kyle Isbel home run in the fourth, a Freddy Fermin sac fly in the fifth, and a couple Cleveland scores. 

Which leads us to the big eighth inning to absolutely put the nail in the coffin. Vinnie Pasquantino hits the Royals fourth home run of the night into the right field bullpen to make the score 10-3. That ends up being the final score on a night that just seemed to have everything clicking all around. It truly shows how dangerous the Royals offense can truly be when they get consistent contributions from Kyle Isbel and Hunter Renfroe. Which will help take off some of the workload from the top of the lineup, and also get some protection. If Renfroe can continue working like this, he could cement himself as the five hole hitter for the immediate future. When you have protection around your superstars it makes everything so much more breathable, and sustainable.

Summary of the Next Game

In the next one, the Royals will try to continue their mojo while having their ace on the mound. Cole Ragans heads to the mound for KC who just held Miami to one run over six innings on Monday night. The Guardians will trot out Tanner Bibee, the impressive right hander that finished in the top three of Rookie of the Year voting last season. He’s passed the baton to this season, going 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA halfway through the season. This AL Central battle will continue, with the Royals taking the first two of the series, and hoping to keep gaining ground on the division leader. It’s time to try and take a series, and keep capitalizing on each win. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, we can still talk about the Royals being in the conversation for the division by the end of the year.