The Kansas City Royals secured their first series sweep of the season, rolling the Colorado Rockies at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday, April 24 with doubleheader wins of 7-4 and 6-2.
The first game was back and forth as the Rockies scored in the top of the first, only for the Royals to claim the lead in the home half when Salvador Perez’s first of four doubles on the day brought home two runs. The Rockies retook the lead with home runs by Jordan Beck in the second and Hunter Goodman in the third. Perez got on base in the third with his second double, then came home on a Michael Massey single. Drew Waters tied the game with his RBI single.
The Royals opened the game up in the fifth when Kyle Isbel singled home Perez and Cavan Biggio. Isbel successfully placed a bunt in the seventh to plate Tyler Tolbert. The Royals’ offense was persistent in the first game, claiming 13 hits and drawing four walks, while going seven-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
Cole Ragans only lasted three innings in the first game, allowing all four Rockies runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out four. Angel Zerpa pitched two scoreless innings to claim the win, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out one. Carlos Estévez recorded his sixth save with a scoreless ninth.
The Royals continued their offensive momentum into the second game, again opening the game up in the fifth inning. After getting on the board with Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly in the second and Vinnie Pasquantino’s single in the third, the Royals put the game away with an RBI single from Bobby Witt Junior, followed by Perez’ fourth double of the day. Beck’s solo home runs in the sixth and eighth innings were the only runs for Colorado in the second game, as Drew Waters pulled a run back for Kansas City in the bottom of the eighth.
Michael Lorenzen recorded the quality start for the Royals, going six innings and allowing the first Beck home run along with four more hits and four walks, while fanning seven.
The Royals improve to 12-14 on the season, now three-and-a-half games behind Detroit for the AL Central lead. Another home series awaits to Royals as they welcome the Houston Astros for a three-game series; first pitch Friday is at 6:40 p.m., with Seth Lugo taking the mound for KC. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. on KMMO-FM 102.9.