Tuesday 13th May 2025

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Dairon Blanco’s first career grand slam highlighted a seven-run third inning that turned Saturday’s game into a lopsided 13-1 win for the Kansas City Royals over the Cincinnati Reds at Great America Ballpark.

Blanco had already delivered a two-run blast in the second inning to make the score 3-0 Royals, when he connected on a 1-1 pitch with one out from Buck Farmer, who had just been brought in to relieve starter Nick Lodolo. The grand slam came after Lodolo gifted a run by walking Freddy Fermin, then gave up an RBI single to Paul DeJong to setup Blanco. The Royals were not done in the third, as Vinnie Pasquantino doubled in Bobby Witt Jr. Blanco had another RBI in the fourth with a single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Maikel Garcia. A fielding error accounted for the Royals’ final run, while the Reds finally got on the board in the seventh with Jeimer Candelario’s 20th home run of the year.

Michael Wacha notched his tenth win of the season, recording six scoreless innings on four hits and one walk while striking out nine.

The win keeps Kansas City (68-55) 2.5 games ahead of Boston for the third wild card spot, while four games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. The Royals go for the sweep Sunday afternoon at 12:40, with pregame beginning at noon on KMMO AM 1300.