Final Score: CLE 8 | KC 5

Overall Record: 36-26

Winning/Losing Pitcher:

• W: Cade Smith (3-0, 1.67 ERA)
• L: Sam Long (0-1, 0.00 ERA)
• S: Emmanuel Clase (19, 0.30 ERA)

Royals Player of the Game

The Offense against Triston Mackenzie

5 runs, 3 HR’s, 9 Hits, 3 BB’s

There would have been a more obvious star, but an error that led to the Guardians lead changes that. The Royals offense was good against a guy who is notorious for shutting them down. Bobby Witt Jr. had two home runs off of “Sticks,” driving in Maikel Garcia who had two hits on the day. Hunter Renfroe hit a home run as well, looking to break out of his slump. To round it out, Nick Loftin had a two-hit game, although the bottom of the order didn’t do anything with those hits. At least we had a great day, on offense, from Bobby Witt Jr.

Key Highlights

The reason Bobby Witt Jr. wasn’t the player of the game was due to his throwing error that led to the Guardians building a three run lead. While he has been an elite defensive shortstop this year, that play just seemed like rookie year BWJ. Royals fans have ragged on him a lot on Twitter/X, but there are other reasons they lost as well. The big one is that the offense dried up after “Sticks” left the game, only getting one more hit in the game.

The pitching looked solid until Seth Lugo was sent out for the seventh. Quatraro was stuck between a rock and a hard place as the bullpen hasn’t been good this year, so sending Lugo out was his choice. Lugo gave up a bloop and a blast that led to a five run seventh for Cleveland. This game showed that “Q” doesn’t trust the bullpen. Outside of Lugo going back out for the seventh, Sam Long, Angel Zerpa, and Nick Anderson looked solid.

Summary of the Next Game

Baseball is a game of ebbs and flows, or as my grandpa has always said “somedays peanuts, somedays shells,” so the Royals will be looking to crack open some peanuts. In game two of the series the Royals will send out Brady Singer (4-2, 2.63 ERA) to face off against opener Nick Sandlin (4-0, 2.77 ERA).

Photo Credit: Chris Young, AP Photos