RBI hits from Nick Loftin and Maikel Garcia put the Kansas City Royals up for good Wednesday, Sept. 10, snapping a three-game losing skid as the Royals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Loftin tied the game on a 1-1 pitch with one out that he popped into left field. The throw home was offline, allowing Tyler Tolbert to score. Loftin attempted to stretch his single into a double, spurring Bo Naylor to throw toward second. His throw went into center field, resulting in a two-base error putting Loftin in prime position to score, which he did when Garcia sent a line drive to left field.
The Royals had struck in the top of the first with a Jonathan India single that scored Garcia. The Guardians responded in the bottom of the first with Kyle Manzardo’s two-run home run. A Vinnie Pasquantino single tied the game up in the third, only for Bo Naylor to reclaim the lead for Cleveland in the fourth with a line drive single to right field. The Royals showed more success on the base paths, going four-for-ten with runners in scoring position and swiping a pair of stolen bases.
The Royals relied on a committee of relievers Wednesday, following Michael Wacha’s placement on the concussion list. Chris Bowlan opened the game, allowing the two-run home run in the first, while Angel Zerpa lasted one-and-two-thirds after allowing Naylor’s single. Luinder Avila pitched scoreless fifth and sixth innings, striking out one and walking another, to claim his first win of the year. Carlos Estévez claimed his 39th save of the season with a spotless ninth.
The win bumps the Royals up to 74-72, keeping pace with Seattle and Texas in the wild card chase, following the Mariners’ sweep of the Cardinals late Wednesday night. The Royals remain four games behind the Mariners in the wild card race and ten behind Detroit in the AL Central, with 16 games remaining. The series at Cleveland wraps up Thursday evening, with Stephen Kolek getting the start. First pitch is at 6:15 p.m., with pregame at 5:30 p.m. on KMMO-FM 102.9.