Kansas City Royals News

Miles Mikolas has terrific night as Cardinals edge Royals

Miles Mikolas has terrific night as Cardinals edge Royals

Miles Mikolas threw eight scoreless innings as the host St. Louis Cardinals edged the Kansas City Royals 2-1 Tuesday.Mikolas (3-1) allowed just three hits and walk while tying his career high with 10 strikeouts. Giovanny Gallegos survived Kansas City's ninth-inning rally to earn his seventh save.Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman drove in the runs for the Cardinals, who earned a split in the two-game series while playing their 19th games in 19 days.Royals starting pitcher Zack Greinke blanked the Cardinals for five innings while allowing just two hits and a walk. He struck out six.Reliever Carlos Hernandez (0-2) took the loss as the Royals fell for the eighth time in 11 games.Mikolas opened the game by hitting Nick Pratto and allowing Vinnie Pasquantino's single. Pratto took third on a flyout, but Mikolas retired the next two batters.The Royals threatened in the fourth inning after MJ Melendez reached on a fielder's choice and took second on a wild pitch. But he was thrown out trying to score on Michael Massey's single into right field.Alec Burleson hit a leadoff double in the fifth inning for St. Louis and took third on a wild pitch. But Greinke retired the next three hitters.
Four Royals pitchers combine on two-hit shutout of Cardinals

Four Royals pitchers combine on two-hit shutout of Cardinals

Mike Mayers, Josh Staumont, Taylor Clarke and Amir Garrett combined to throw a two-hitter Monday as the visiting Kansas City Royals blanked the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0.The Royals used Staumont as the opener in a bullpen game. He set the Cardinals down in order in the first inning, then Mayers (1-0) came on to retire the next 18 batters to take a perfect game into the eighth inning.The Cardinals finally broke through against Mayers when Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras hit singles to open the eighth.Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey each drove in two runs for the Royals, who won their second straight game after losing seven of their previous eight.Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (2-1) allowed three runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out six batters and walked two.The Cardinals lost outfielder Lars Nootbaar to lower back spasms in the third inning. He pulled up short while chasing a double from Nick Pratto into the right-center field gap.Pratto and Pasquantino hit doubles opening the third inning to put the Royals up 1-0.The Royals pushed their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. Salvador Perez hit a single and scored on MJ Melendez's triple. After Massey walked, Freddy Fermin dropped down a run-scoring safety squeeze bunt.
Royals' pitchers perfect through 7 innings vs. Cardinals

Royals' pitchers perfect through 7 innings vs. Cardinals

The Kansas City Royals are working on what would be the first combined perfect game in baseball history against the Cardinals through seven innings Monday in St. Louis.Reliever Josh Staumont started the game as the opener and retired the three batters he faced. Mike Mayers relieved him and retired the next 18 in order.Royals outfielder Drew Waters kept the perfect game going with a diving catch of Tommy Edman's sinking liner into center field to end the sixth inning.
Late error helps Royals avoid sweep against Nationals

Late error helps Royals avoid sweep against Nationals

The Kansas City Royals took advantage of a ninth-inning error to rally for a 3-2 win over the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon.With one out, MJ Melendez reached second when first baseman Dominic Smith misplayed a grounder. One out later, Michael Massey's hit to right field gave the Royals their second walk-off win of the year.Solo home runs by Melendez in the seventh inning and Edward Olivares in the eighth forged a tie. Melendez connected for the first time since May 8, his fifth of the year, and Olivares for the first time since May 10, his fourth.Scott Barlow (2-3) picked up the win by pitching a hitless ninth inning, while Chad Kuhl (0-3) was the hard-luck loser.After surrendering a leadoff double in the first, Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore retired 19 of the next 21 batters and allowed just three balls out of the infield before Melendez's one-out homer in the seventh.Gore struck out a career-high 11 while matching his career best with seven innings, allowing a run on three hits and a walk.Ildemaro Vargas' one-out double off the top of the left-field wall opened the scoring for Washington in the fourth.Michael Chavis followed with an RBI hit to center, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead. Chavis and Smith each had two of Washington's eight hits.
CJ Abrams' tiebreaking double lifts Nationals over Royals

CJ Abrams' tiebreaking double lifts Nationals over Royals

CJ Abrams' two-run double rallied the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 win over the host Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.One day after scoring eight sixth-inning runs in a come-from-behind victory, the Nationals again rebounded from a sixth-inning deficit, scoring four as Abrams' bases-loaded double broke a 2-2 tie.The Nationals were hitless until Jeimer Candelario's leadoff double in the fourth against Royals starter Brady Singer, who worked around three walks, striking out six, as the Nationals were 0-for-8 with runners-in-scoring-position over the first five innings.Washington chased Singer in the sixth when Candelario singled and Corey Dickerson delivered his 1,000th career hit, an RBI double. Candelario and Dickerson each had a pair of hits.The Nationals continued the rally against Royals reliever Josh Taylor (1-3) as Keibert Ruiz singled to score Dickerson, tying the game.Without retiring a batter, Taylor allowed two hits and walked the bases full before Abrams drilled a 2-2 fastball on one hop off the right-field wall for a 4-2 Nationals' lead.Taylor has retired just three of his last 10 batters faced and five have scored.The Royals opened the scoring on a two-out wild pitch in the first inning and Salvador Perez made it 2-0 in the third with a solo shot to left, his 12th home run and ninth May homer.
Luis Garcia's six hits lead Nationals past Royals

Luis Garcia's six hits lead Nationals past Royals

Luis Garcia matched a franchise record with six hits as the Washington Nationals outlasted the host Kansas City Royals 12-10 on Friday evening.The Nationals opened an explosive sixth inning with back-to-back leadoff doubles by Garcia and Joey Meneses.After Jeimer Candelario walked, Corey Dickerson delivered his second home run of the year -- a three-run shot -- into the right-field bullpen, snapping a 2-2 tie.Among his career-best six hits, Garcia doubled twice in the sixth as Washington sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring eight for their biggest inning of the season.Bobby Witt Jr.'s ninth homer -- and second of the game -- highlighted a five-run seventh inning as Kansas City batted around, cutting the lead to 9-8.Meneses collected his third hit ahead of Candelario's two-run triple, helping Washington add three eighth-inning insurance runs.Witt matched a career high with four hits and his career-best fifth RBI capped Kansas City's scoring during a two-run eighth.Chad Kuhl recorded five outs for his first career save.Lane Thomas led off the game against Jordan Lyles (0-9) with his eighth homer, a 421-foot shot over the left-field bullpen. It was his sixth career leadoff home run and first since Sept. 23 last year.
Royals release veteran 3B/OF Hunter Dozier

Royals release veteran 3B/OF Hunter Dozier

The Kansas City Royals released veteran third baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier on Saturday.Dozier, 31, was designated for assignment Monday after batting .183 with two homers and nine RBIs in 29 games this year.Dozier is in the third season of a four-year, $25 million extension signed in March 2021.The Royals are on the hook for the remainder of his $7.25 million in 2023 and the $9 million he's owed in 2024.
Nationals, Royals ready for rare matchup

Nationals, Royals ready for rare matchup

The Washington Nationals are set to visit Kansas City for the first time in seven years when they oppose the Royals in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.Washington took two of three at Kansas City in May 2016. The teams have met once since then, when the host Nationals claimed two of three in July 2019.Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin (3-5, 4.47 ERA) will oppose Royals right-hander Jordan Lyles (0-8, 7.15) on Friday.Corbin helped the Nationals to their 2019 series victory by throwing seven shutout innings, striking out 11 and walking none. He got a no-decision in a game that Washington won 5-2.Corbin has allowed no runs over 9 2/3 innings in two appearances against the Royals. Among current Kansas City hitters, only Matt Duffy has hit safely against Corbin, going 3-for-12.In each of his seven starts since April 16, Corbin has thrown at least 5 1/3 innings while allowing no more than three earned runs. He has six quality starts this year, tied for fifth in the National League.Corbin, who is coming off consecutive wins, hasn't won three straight decisions since May 2021. His command of the strike zone has been especially sharp of late, as he has allowed just one walk over his past 25 innings.The Nationals arrive in Kansas City after dropping an 8-6 decision against the San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon to complete a 3-3 homestand.While Washington has lost six of its past nine games, its offense has been more productive recently, generating 52 runs in the past 10 games.Leadoff hitter Lane Thomas has a 10-game hitting streak in which he is batting .366 (15-for-41) with three home runs.Ildemaro Vargas has hit safely in six of eight games since his May 3 return from the 10-day injured list, batting .440 (11-for-25). He had been out for almost a month due to a left shoulder strain."I can't say enough about what Vargas does," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "He goes out there and plays with a lot of fun, a lot of energy."Over his past 10 games, Washington's Jeimer Candelario is hitting .436 (17-for-39) with eight extra-base hits. Among Nationals hitters, Candelario has the most experience against Lyles, with one hit in eight at-bats.
Tigers ride pinch-hit homer to win over Royals

Tigers ride pinch-hit homer to win over Royals

Pinch-hitter Zack Short's three-run homer led the visiting Detroit Tigers to a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday evening.Short's second home run of the season -- a one-out shot to left-center off Josh Taylor (1-2) -- broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth. It was his first career pinch-hit homer and the Tigers' third pinch-hit home run of the year, most in the majors.Taylor allowed three runs on three hits in relief of Royals' starter Zack Greinke.Will Vest (1-0) got four outs for the victory and Alex Lange earned his ninth save.Both starting pitchers breezed through the first three innings, striking out a combined seven batters with just two reaching base, then both labored through the fourth.Detroit was hitless until Riley Greene's one-out solo homer in the fourth. Greene's 440-foot blast into the right-center-field fountains was his fifth home run of the season. He also doubled and scored ahead of Short's homer.Greinke surrendered one run on four hits and a walk, striking out five over five innings.Tigers starter Matthew Boyd allowed a run on three hits and two walks, striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.The Royals tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom half of the fourth on MJ Melendez's bases-loaded grounder.
Bullpen, big inning carry Royals past Tigers

Bullpen, big inning carry Royals past Tigers

Michael Massey's double sparked a three-run fourth inning and the Kansas City bullpen made it hold up as the host Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Tuesday.With one out in the fourth, shortstop Javy Baez's throwing error put Edward Olivares on first base. Massey followed with a liner into the right field corner on the next pitch. Massey then scored on Maikel Garcia's RBI single. The next two Royals batters also reached base before Salvador Perez made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly.Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4) flirted with trouble all night, putting runners in scoring position before escaping with back-to-back strikeouts in each of the first two innings. Ultimately, he completed five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks. He struck out nine.Making just his sixth career start -- and first since Sept. 6 of last year -- Mike Mayers fanned the first four Tigers he faced and a career-best eight over 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits and a walk.Over the first three innings, the two starters combined to strike out 13 of 23 batters.Mayers exited with runners on first and second and two outs in the fifth. Baez hit reliever Jose Cuas' first pitch for an RBI single. The Tigers finished with eight hits -- all singles with Baez getting two of them.Kansas City answered, however, with Olivares' RBI single in the bottom half of the fifth for a 4-1 lead.Four Royals' relievers hurled 4 1/3 innings to close out the Tigers.
Royals DFA Hunter Dozier

Royals DFA Hunter Dozier

The Kansas City Royals on Monday designated infielder/outfielder Hunter Dozier, who's in the third year of a $25 million contract.The Royals are on the hook for the remainder of Dozier's $7.25 million in 2023 and the $9 million he's owed in 2024.Infielder Nicky Lopez takes Dozier's roster spot. The club reinstated Lopez from the 10-day injured list on Monday after a bout with appendicitis.
Javier Baez’s clutch double powers Tigers over Royals

Javier Baez’s clutch double powers Tigers over Royals

Javier Baez's three-run double lifted the visiting Detroit Tigers to an 8-5 extra-inning win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday evening.Baez lined a first-pitch fastball from Scott Barlow (1-3) to the base of the left-field bullpen fence, clearing the bases and breaking a 5-5 tenth-inning tie. It was Baez's third hit as he snapped an 0-for-19 slump.Four Tigers' relievers provided five innings of hitless relief after the Royals forged a 5-5 tie in the fifth. Alex Lange (2-0) earned the win with two hitless innings and Jose Cisnero pitched the tenth for his first save since 2021.Detroit has won five of seven extra-inning games.Tigers' starter Michael Lorenzen recovered from consecutive first-inning home runs to face the minimum over the next four innings on just 46 pitches.Lorenzen finished 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five.Control issues plagued Royals' starter Brady Singer as he walked four, including a bases-loaded free pass to Akil Baddoo to get the Tigers on the scoreboard in the first before Matt Vierling delivered a two-run single for an early 3-0 Detroit lead.Vierling's fourth homer, a two-run shot to left-center in the third, broke a 3-3 tie. He added a seventh-inning single and matched a career high with four RBI.
Royals add RHP Nick Wittgren, option RHP Max Castillo

Royals add RHP Nick Wittgren, option RHP Max Castillo

The Kansas City Royals selected the contract of right-hander Nick Wittgren from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday and had him swap roster spots with right-hander Max Castillo, who was optioned.Wittgren, 31, has seven years of major league experience, most recently last season with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is 19-15 with a 3.96 ERA in 287 appearances (one start) for the Miami Marlins (2016-18), Cleveland franchise (2019-21) and Cardinals.
Romy Gonzalez, Lance Lynn lift White Sox past Royals

Romy Gonzalez, Lance Lynn lift White Sox past Royals

Romy Gonzalez hit a two-run triple among his three hits and Lance Lynn pitched six strong innings to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 5-2 win against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon.Chicago secured its first series sweep of the season to close a nine-game homestand with a 6-3 record.Michael Massey reached Lynn for a two-run home run in the second inning, but the Royals couldn't score after that en route to their seventh loss in nine games.Kansas City employed the "opener" approach, and the strategy paid off early. Carlos Hernandez retired the first six White Sox batters in order, including three via strikeout.Expected to pitch the majority of the game on Sunday, Max Castillo recorded outs against four of the first five hitters he faced before Chicago found its offense.Luis Robert smacked a solo home run in the fourth inning for the White Sox.One inning later, two singles and a Hanser Alberto sacrifice bunt set up a big rally. Gonzalez drove a two-run triple to right field to score Clint Frazier and Gavin Sheets, then crossed the plate one batter later on Andrew Benintendi's RBI sacrifice fly.Lynn (3-5) and three relievers limited Kansas City after that.
White Sox topple Royals behind Lucas Giolito

White Sox topple Royals behind Lucas Giolito

Lucas Giolito pitched six strong innings to lead the host Chicago White Sox to a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.Giolito (3-3) turned in his eighth consecutive start of at least six innings, surrendering a run on six hits and a walk, fanning four.Jake Burger provided the big hit, a bases-clearing double to the wall in right center, expanding the White Sox lead to 5-1 in the sixth.Chicago collected three consecutive hits with one out in the first inning, capped by Yoan Moncada's two-run single, for a 2-1 lead. Luis Robert Jr. doubled in the inning -- tying for the team lead with 13 -- and is tied for the major-league lead with 25 extra-base hits.Moncada walked in the sixth, loading the bases and chasing Royals starter Jordan Lyles (0-8) from the game before Burger greeted reliever Jose Cuas with his three-run double.Lyles went five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks, striking out five.Over 10 starts, Lyles has a career-worst eight consecutive losses. Lyles' 7.15 ERA is the highest in the majors among starters.Four White Sox relievers closed out the Royals on one hit over the final three innings.Chicago has won five of seven.
Michael Kopech dominates as White Sox blank Royals

Michael Kopech dominates as White Sox blank Royals

Michael Kopech allowed just one hit and struck out 10 over eight shutout innings and Gavin Sheets and Romy Gonzalez drove in early runs as the Chicago White Sox blanked the visiting Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Friday night.Kopech retired the first 16 Royals in order while striking out at least one batter in each of his first six innings. Michael Massey hit broken-bat single to right field in the sixth for Kansas City's first baserunner.Kopech (2-4) regrouped, though, getting the next batter, Jackie Bradley Jr., to ground into a double play. Kopech did not walk a batter and faced the minimum over his career-best eight innings while throwing 98 pitches, 65 for strikes.Kendall Graveman assured Chicago faced the minimum overall, working a perfect ninth for his third save. Bradley flew out to the warning track in center field to end the game.Second-inning small ball propelled the White Sox to the only offense they would need. Yoan Moncada, Andrew Vaughn, and Gavin Sheets started the innings with singles to right field, with Sheets' hit scoring Moncada for the game's first run.Gonzalez added a sacrifice fly later in the inning for a 2-0 Chicago lead.Royals starter Zack Greinke (1-5) lost for the first time in four starts this month. The right-hander surrendered two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts.
Royals outlast scuffling Padres, 4-3

Royals outlast scuffling Padres, 4-3

Vinnie Pasquantino hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer to highlight a three-run sixth inning Wednesday afternoon, leading the visiting Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in the rubber match of a three-game series.MJ Melendez, who drove in the Royals' first run with a fourth-inning double, and Maikel Garcia followed with back-to-back doubles for Kansas City's final run and a 4-1 lead.Bobby Witt Jr. scored twice on Melendez's double in the fourth and Pasquantino's eighth homer.Josh Taylor (1-1), the third of seven pitchers deployed by the Royals in a bullpen game, was credited with the win. Scott Barlow picked up the save in a second straight game to give him six for the season as the Royals claimed just their third series of the season.Royals pitchers had 13 strikeouts -- five coming with runners in scoring position.Padres starter Yu Darvish, who gave up four runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, took the loss to fall to 2-3.The Padres have lost nine of their last 11 games to slip into fourth place in the National League West.
Royals recall Mike Mayers, move Ryan Yarbrough to 60-day IL

Royals recall Mike Mayers, move Ryan Yarbrough to 60-day IL

The Kansas City Royals recalled right-hander Mike Mayers from Triple-A Omaha prior to Wednesday's game versus the host San Diego Padres.The Royals also placed Ryan Yarbrough on the 60-day injured list and fellow left-hander Amir Garrett on the family medical emergency list. Garrett can be on the list for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven.Mayers, 31, last pitched in the majors in 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels, posting a 1-1 record with a 5.68 ERA in 24 appearances (three starts). He owns an 11-9 record with a 5.10 ERA in 198 career games (six starts) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Angels.Yarbrough, 31, initially was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 8 after he was hit in the face by a line drive in the previous day's game against the Oakland Athletics.
After 5-run second inning, Royals hang on vs. Padres

After 5-run second inning, Royals hang on vs. Padres

Salvador Perez capped a five-run second inning with a two-run double, and the visiting Kansas City Royals held on to defeat the San Diego Padres 5-4 to even the interleague series at a win apiece.San Diego's bullpen held the Royals scoreless over the final seven innings while the Padres drew close with two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.The win halted a four-game losing streak for the Royals. The loss was the sixth in seven games for the Padres.Right-hander Brady Singer (3-4) gave up four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six innings to earn the win for the Royals. Closer Scott Barlow worked a perfect ninth to earn his fifth save.Padres starter Seth Lugo gave up five runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts in just two innings to take the loss and fall to 3-3.Former Padre Edward Olivares opened the Royals second with a single, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball before MJ Melendez drew a one-out walk. Matt Duffy then plated Olivares with a single to left to make it 1-0. Freddy Fermin then drew a walk to load the bases.
Michael Wacha flirts with no-hitter as Padres blank Royals

Michael Wacha flirts with no-hitter as Padres blank Royals

Veteran right-hander Michael Wacha took a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Monday night as the San Diego Padres snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals.Wacha struck out a career-high 11 and faced two hitters over the minimum through seven innings before Michael Massey opened the eighth with a line-drive single to right on an 0-1 changeup.Wacha, who signed with the Padres as a free agent this past February, retired the first 13 Royals he faced before hitting Edward Olivares with a pitch with one out in the fifth. An inning later, Wacha issued a two-out walk to Bobby Witt Jr.Wacha departed the game immediately after Massey's hit. Wacha improved to 4-1 by giving up one hit, one walk and hitting one batter over seven-plus innings. He threw 103 pitches, with 70 going for strikes.San Diego reliever Nick Martinez allowed a hit over two innings. Wacha and Martinez combined for 13 strikeouts in the two-hit shutout.The Padres took advantage of the wildness of Kansas City starter Brad Keller to score three runs in the first two innings. Keller (3-4) gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits, eight walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches in 3 2/3 innings to take the loss. He fanned two.

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