Image Credit: AP Photo / Sue Ogrocki

Final Score: KC 5 | CLE 7

Overall Record: 75-59

Winning/Losing Pitcher

W: Eli Morgan (2-0 | 2.36 ERA)
L: Lucas Erceg (2-4 | 2.88 ERA)

Royals Players of the Game

Vinnie Pasquantino: 4-5, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 HR

After going 0-14 in the first three games of the series, Pasquantino broke out of his mini-slump in a big way. He hit a solo homerun in the first inning and although he didn’t score any of his other times on base, it’s good to see him regain his presence at the plate.

Michael Wacha: 6.0 IP, 5 ER, 9 H, 7 K

Wacha’s final line looks much worse than how he actually pitched for about 90-percent of his outing. With the bullpen being heavily relied on the first three games of the series, he was probably asked to pitch one inning too many. After giving up just two runs through six innings, Wacha allowed three straight hits to start the inning. All three came around to score after Wacha was relieved, which would tie the game in the seventh inning.

Other Highlights

Every batter except for Kyle Isbel got on base, while Witt joined Pasquantino with multiple hits. Lucas Erceg gave up his first run as a Royal, but it was more due to the luck of the Guardians. Nearly every hit they had against Erceg came off of soft contact that happened to find grass.

Summary of the Next Game

The Royals will head to Houston for another four-game series, where Brady Singer will start the first game against Hunter Brown. The Royals swept the Astros early in the season, and while they aren’t an immediate threat to the Royals’ playoff hopes, the fact they are on the schedule this late in the season makes them enough of a threat to call this an important series. The Royals currently hold a two game lead over the Twins and a six game lead over the Red Sox in the Wild Card standings.