Royals bullpen hitless over five innings in 4-3 win in Cleveland

A series split against first place Cleveland.

The Royals overcame a 3-1 deficit and despite 11 runners left on base, got the key hits they needed late in the game to win 4-3 and tie the series against the Guardians. Overall, the beleaguered Royals bullpen compiled for over five hitless innings in the win.

The Royals struck in the first inning off Guardians starter Tanner Bibee. Maikel Garcia led off the game with a ground ball to second, but reached on an error by Andrés Giménez. Vinnie Pasquantino, who has been heating up lately, doubled him home to put the Royals on the board. But Garcia returned the favor to Giménez with an error to put him on base in the bottom of the inning. Brady Singer walked José Ramírez to load the bases, and Josh Naylor drove home a run with a fielder’s choice ground out to make it 1-1 after one frame.

Ramírez has been a thorn in the side of the Royals in his career, and he continued that today with a solo home run in the third, his 17th of the year, and his 29th career home run against the Royals. Singer worked around a double by Kyle Manzardo to avoid any further trouble. Brady Singer loaded the bases on three singles in the fourth, bringing Ramírez up again. He limited the damage by inducing an infield single to make it 3-1 Guardians, but that ended his day after just 3 ²⁄₃ innings and 70 pitches and 9 hits allowed.

The Royals finally got to Bibee in the sixth when Freddy Fermin singled to lead off the inning. MJ Melendez walked, ending Bibee’s day at five innings and 94 pitches. Hunter Renfroe doubled off reliever Nick Sandlin to score Fermin. Kyle Isbel had gone hitless in his first two plate appearances with a runner in scoring position, but he was able to get a run home with a ground ball and a nifty slide by Melendez

Isbel really came through in eighth following an Adam Frazier double. His single to right drove Frazier home, giving the Royals a 4-3 lead. The Royals had a chance at an insurance run in the ninth off Scott Barlow, when Bobby Witt Jr. led off with a walk and advanced to second on a steal. But Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez struck out, and after a Freddy Fermin walk, pinch-hitter Nick Loftin grounded into a force out to end the threat.

James McArthur pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, getting Ramírez to ground out to end the game. McArthur, Will Smith, Angel Zerpa, Sam Long, and John Schreiber combined for 5 ¹⁄₃ hitless innings with five strikeouts.

The Royals improved to 37-26 and pull within four games of Cleveland for first place. They’ll head back home for a three-game weekend series against the Mariners, starting tomorrow night at 7:10 CT with Daniel Lynch scheduled to face Bryce Miller.