Back-to-back home runs by Bobby Witt Jr and Vinnie Pasquantino were all the runs the Kansas City Royals would need to secure a series win over the American League-leading Toronto Blue Jays, winning 2-1 on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals were limited to four hits by Toronto starter Shane Bieber, providing for a tighter contest than Friday’s onslaught that set a number of records and ignoble milestones. Bieber kept the Royals to a walk in the first three innings, but after a pair of balls to start the fourth, Witt delivered with a fly ball to center field that landed 422 feet away. Pasquantino also needed three pitches to launch his solo shot to right-center field.
The Royals had a chance to extend their lead in the seventh, after Bieber left the game for Mason Fluharty. A fielding error on a fielders choice, followed by Jac Caglianone getting hit by a pitch, loaded the bases for one out. However, Fluharty got Tyler Tolbert to strike out, and a backhanded catch by Myles Straw robbed Carter Jansen of potential game-sealing RBIs.
Starter Noah Cameron made the game a pitchers’ duel, also going into the seventh before allowing Toronto’s only run, a home run to Daulton Varsho. John Schreiber and Taylor Clarke held the game, setting up Carlos Estévez’ 41st save of the year. Cameron went 6.2 innings and struck five out, allowing the lone home run on three hits and a pair of walks. Bieber took the loss, allowing both runs on four hits and a walk while fanning four.
The Royals are now at 78-77, seven games behind Detroit in the AL Central and six behind Cleveland and Houston in the wild card chase. The Royals look for the sweep when Michael Wacha gets the start Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. in the final home game of the regular season; pregame begins at 12:30 p.m. on KMMO AM 1300.
A gamble by the St Louis Cardinals in the tenth inning proved costly, as the Milwaukee Brewers prevailed 3-2 after the extra inning Saturday, Sept. 20 at Busch Stadium.
Brice Turang singled in Milwaukee’s leadoff runner with two outs in the top of the tenth to give the Brewers the lead. The Cardinals hoped to advance their leadoff runner Lars Nootbaar with their first batter, Brendan Donovan. However, Donovan’s grounder to pitcher Jared Koenig caused Nootbaar to hesitate, but Nootbaar still took off for third after Koenig threw to first. First baseman Andruw Monasterio gunned the ball to third, where Caleb Durbin easily applied the tag. Koenig then got Iván Herrera to pop out to end the game.
The Brewers had scored first when Joey Ortiz sharply grounded a ball to right field, scoring Jake Bauers. Nolan Arenado singled with one out in the fourth to tie the game, and Donovan gave the Cardinals the lead in the next inning with a single to right field. Milwaukee tied the game back up when an Andrew Vaught sacrifice fly allowed Durbin to score.
Miles Mikolas ended up with a no-decision after a start that saw him face the leadoff batter in the sixth. He allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks, recording three punchouts. JoJo Romero took the loss, allowing the go-ahead single in the tenth.
The Cardinals (75-80) are five games behind the Mets for the third wild card. A win Sunday afternoon could potentially prevent Milwaukee from leaving St Louis with the NL Central locked up, as the Brewers are seven games ahead of the Cubs. Matthew Liberatore gets the nod for the Cardinals in their final home game of the regular season. First pitch will be at 1:15 p.m.