Final Score: KC 6 | BOS 1

Overall Record: 52-43

Winning/Losing Pitcher

• W: Cole Ragans (6-6 | 3.16 ERA)
• L:  Cooper Criswell (3-4 | 4.03 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

Cole Ragans

7.0 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 7 K

Remarkable? Spectacular? Cole Ragans continues to be a force for the Royals rotation. They needed him to be an Ace on Friday, to set the tone against a team in the wild card race. He gave this team another incredible quality start against Boston, where he strikes out seven. And continues to show how dominant of a starter he has been. The rotation on his pitches on Friday was ridiculous. There were many times the Red Sox lineup would think the pitch would be going in one direction, and then Ragans would pull the rug out from under them. This sounds crude, but it’s fun to watch Ragans play with his food. His change in speeds tonight was also key in disrupting the batters timing at the plate. Ragans has proven that mixing up his pitch selection has been key for his success this year. It’s tough to have hit off someone with the same arm slot for every pitch. With the rotation on his pitches being pretty similar, that also will completely upset the hitters timing so they just can’t do anything with it. 

You saw many times tonight that the Red Sox hitters truly thought they were going to hit the ball but had no chance of doing so, with Ragans having 23 whiffs tonight (post didn’t include final strikeout on Connor Wong). Coming off the announcement of his first All-Star selection, Cole Ragans proved that he is rightfully a part of that top echelon of pitchers pitching today. If the Royals want to continue to be a part of this playoff race, it is essential for pitchers like Cole Ragans to keep grinding every fifth day. And they have been so far, but I’m so intrigued to see how they continue to do down the back half of the season. Where mistakes become bigger, stakes larger, and where you could lose everything. Moral of the story, performances like tonight prove that he can be that Ace for this staff moving forward, and only at 26 years old. 

Key Highlights

The Royals offense came up firing early at Fenway with three straight hits from Adam Frazier, Bobby Witt Jr., and Vinnie Pasquantino. That set the stage for Salvador Perez, who hit a sacrifice fly to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the next two batters couldn’t get anything going. So starting with bases loaded and no one out, and only get one run. But that’s okay, because the Royals offense wasn’t done there. Despite the next runs all being unearned; the second inning kept things going. MJ Melendez got to second base on a tricky ground ball that gets past the first and second basemen. After a Maikel Garcia sacrifice bunt, and a Kyle Isbel walk, the top of the lineup was back up. And known leadoff hitter Adam Frazier comes up big and drives home MJ. Frazier as a leadoff hitter is what manager Matt Quatraro has been more comfortable with given some of the issues that Maikel Garcia has been having at the plate. He looks smart here, and who knows what Frazier could do from that spot moving forward, or at least before they might upgrade that spot at the trade deadline. 

The rally continues with Bobby Witt Jr getting hit by a pitch, and then RBI machine of late, Vinnie Pasquantino, coming through with a sac fly to make the lead 3-0. Salvador Perez once again comes to the plate, singling in one runner, but then Witt Jr. gets thrown out at home. A confusing decision by third base coach Vance Wilson, who sends him home on a bloop single to left field at Fenway Park. Just a bit of a head scratcher there. The Red Sox then get in on the scoring, getting back-to-back doubles off of All-Star Cole Ragans. Ceddanne Rafaela was the culprit there, hitting one into the gap continuing the two out rally. That was all they’d get though with Ragans getting the final out. The third had the Royals offense cooking a bit as well, with Red Sox killer, MJ Melendez, and Maikel Garcia both singled with two out. Kyle Isbel had another incredible walk, which needs to be talked about more. I at times do not give Kyle Isbel his proper respect.  The Royals strand the bases loaded again, though, with Adam Fraser lining out to second base. but the Royals offense didn’t stop there. In the top of the 4th now, Bobby Witt Jr hit a towering blast into the Fenway Park air, making the lead 5-1. It truly is incredible what Bob is doing right now: putting his talents on display in Boston puts him on notice for big media presence there. 

This has the Royals scoring three times in the first four innings. Huge for a team that really had an offense that struggled on the road. it doesn’t hurt that you continue to get great starting pitching, Cole Ragans continued to have the Red Sox bats baffled, cruising through 7 innings only allowing one run. MJ Melendez continued his monster streak against the Red Sox, mashing a homer to right center field. His 11th on the year, as MJ keeps packing it on of late. 

He is starting to hopefully mature into the player he’s going to be, and this offense truly needs him. If he can get going, look the hell out. If it wasn’t for Ragans start he probably would have competed for Player of the game. The bottom of the eighth started a bit rocky, with Chris Stratton walking the first two batters. He then proceeds to have one of the most impressive outings I’ve seen this year, striking out the next three batters. With the ones retired being the Sox 1-2-3 hitters. Nick Anderson then puts up the final three outs. Giving the Royals the victory to start this crucial series. 

Summary of the Next Game

Let’s hope the Royals offense can continue their offensive high, while they battle against a AL Wild Card foe. Do as much as you can to control what you can control, especially when those opponents are ahead of you in the standings. Royals will thankfully send out one of their best to the mound in right hander Seth Lugo. Who still leads the. MAJOR LEAGUES in ERA and innings pitched. Two categories that prove you are pretty good. The Red Sox will go to battle with Kutter Crawford, who has cooled off a bit after his crazy start to the season. Don’t put too much thought into that, but is a bit higher with a 3.24 ERA. These two squads toe to toe in the AL wild card race, will continue this series in Boston. Let’s hope the Royals can make up some ground that they lost during that tough stretch in June. Afternoon action from Fenway on Saturday, with a 3:10 start time.