Royals use three unanswered runs to split shortened series with Guardians
CLEVELAND, Ohio (KMIZ)
Despite trailing by two runs after five frames, the Royals erased that deficit with three unanswered runs in the final four innings, defeating the Guardians 4-3 on Thursday to secure a split of their abbreviated two-game series. Wednesday's game was postponed due to weather and will be made up on Aug. 26.
Kansas City now sits four games behind Cleveland for the lead in the American League Central division standings, improving its record to 37-26 this season after Thursday's win.
An RBI double off the bat of Vinnie Pasquantino gave the Royals the first lead of the game on Thursday afternoon, but the Guardians responded by scoring three unanswered runs, courtesy of a fielder's choice from Josh Naylor and two RBIs from Jose RamÃrez on a solo home run and an infield single, to take a 3-1 lead by the fourth inning.
However, Kansas City answered with three unanswered runs in the sixth and eighth innings to retake the lead. Hunter Renfroe's RBI double and Kyle Isbel's fielder's choice tied the game 3-3, and then, Isbel hit a go-ahead RBI single just two innings later to put the Royals ahead by one run. James McArthur secured that narrow victory and his 12th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
Matt Quatraro's crew recorded 10 hits as a team, including two-hit performances from Pasquantino and Renfroe. Meanwhile, Isbel led the team in RBIs on Thursday with two in the game.
Brady Singer only completed 3.2 innings in his start on the mound, allowing two earned runs on nine hits. He also tallied two strikeouts in his 70-pitch outing. Kansas City's bullpen combined to toss 5.1 shutout innings with Sam Long earning the win with his scoreless seventh inning on the bump.
Up next - the Royals return home for a seven-game homestand, beginning with a three-game set against the Mariners. The first pitch of Friday's series opener is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
