Royals sweep the Rays and have now won nine of their last ten
In a classic Thursday 12:10 game, the Royals took on the Rays in game three of their series looking for a sweep. Kansas City came into the game having won eight of their last nine and finished the month of May one game above .500. Kansas City remained hot, getting the win and the sweep with a big day for the offense putting up eight runs and 15 hits before heading to Baltimore.
Seth Lugo took the mound for the Royals coming off his best start of the year where he went eight scoreless innings against the Astros. He picked up right where he left off, earning a quality start with five strikeouts.
The Rays got the game started with an early home run off Lugo in the first inning on a poorly located 91 MPH fastball. But as the settled in, Lugo was able to get into a rhythm and was untouched until the 6th inning where the Rays were able to get one more with a single into left field.
On the other hand Shane Baz was coming off his best start of the year where he went seven scoreless in a close game against the Padres. He did not continue his success, as he was pulled after 5.2 innings and gave up 7 ERs with nine hits and three walks and only one strikeout. Kansas City did what I mentioned earlier today as they were able to look up in the zone and hit any hanging breaking stuff.
The Royals scoring started in the fourth and then they never looked back. It looked like Kansas City could tie the game in the bottom of the first after Maikel Garcia hit a single and then stole second and third, but a pop out and a strikeout from Michael Massey and Mark Canha stranded him on third. Fortunately, in the fourth Garcia was able to hit a double and was able to steal third again which allowed Michael Massey to drive him in with a sacrifice fly.
Then in the fifth, Freddy Fermin hit a leadoff double, but a lineout and ground out by Waters and India made it look like it would all be for naught. But there came Bobby Witt Jr… Who hit an opposite field two run shot extending his hitting streak to 22 games. This was followed up by back to back doubles from Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino to put Kansas City up 4-1. It looked like Maikel Garcia might drive in Perez, but his 103 MPH shot to center came just short and he flew out.
Royal’s offense stayed hot, as they went into the sixth where Mark Canha walked, Freddy Fermin singled and then Jonathan India walked setting Bobby Witt Jr up with the bases loaded. The Rays pulled Baz, in favor of Eric Orze who came in and hit Bobby Witt Jr with his first pitch. Vinnie Pasquantino also stayed hot where he hit a single to drive in two more putting them up 7-1.
Lugo gave up one more in the sixth to make it 7-2, but he made it out of the inning and handed the ball to Daniel Lynch IV. Lynch made easy work of the 6-7-8 hitters in just 6 pitches. This was followed by another walk for Jonathan India who was advanced by Vinnie Pasquantino and then was driven in on a third hit for Maikel Garcia to make the game 8-2.
Kansas City loaded the bases in the ninth but Vinnie popped out and stranded three, but it did not matter. The Royals pen was able to hold on the rest of the way as Angel Zerpa and Chris Stratton allowed 0 runs in the eighth and ninth to get the Royals the win and the sweep 8-2.
WINNERS
The offense – Every starter ended with at least one hit, 15 total hits and eight runs
Maikel Garcia – 3-5 with a run and an RBI, also three stolen bases in the first four innings
Vinnie Pasquantino – 2-6 with 2 RBIs and a run
Freddy Fermin – 2-5 with two runs scored
Bobby Witt Jr – Come on… 22 games!!!
Seth Lugo – Not an ideal outing, but looked confident again following a great start Friday
LOSERS
The Rays… In three straight games