Royals claim walk-off win against Padres to avoid getting swept
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Kansas City Royals snapped a three-game skid in walk-off fashion on Sunday afternoon. KC's Nick Loftin hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to lift his team to a 4-3 win over the Padres. With the victory, Kansas City avoided getting swept by San Diego at Kauffman Stadium.
Despite Sunday's win, Kansas City still lost the series, 2-1. However, on a brighter note, the Royals still have not been swept in 2024.
Loftin's ninth inning heroics came right after his teammate, Nelson Velazquez, came in for a pinch-hit triple to tie the ball game up at three runs apiece. It ended up being a big series for Velazquez, overall, as he finished with a total of four RBI.
The Royals' offense struggled to get going throughout much of the series finale, though. Vinnie Pasquantino registered his fifth RBI of the weekend with a sacrifice fly to score Maikel Garcia in the fourth inning, which gave his team a 1-0 lead, but KC couldn't scratch anyone else across home plate until the final frame.
On the other side, San Diego managed to wake up at the dish. Luis Arraez broke through first, to tie the game in the fifth inning. In the eighth inning, both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado brought home a run to take a 3-1 lead over Kansas City.
The Padres' surge was to no avail, though, as Loftin and Velazquez called ball game just one inning later.
On the injury front, outfielder Kyle Isbel exited Sunday's game with a non-concussive head and neck injury, after colliding with Bobby Witt Jr. early on in the win. There is no word on his status, yet.
Up next - Kansas City will hit the road for a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. First pitch is slated for 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4.
