The Royals’ offense continued to struggle, scoring just one run on five hits. On Friday night, the team lost 2-1 to the Giants for the fifth consecutive time.
Royals starter Michael Wacha got into trouble in the opening inch, allowing a leadoff single to Mike Yastrzemski and walking Mark Canha. Heliot Ramos hit a one-out chopper to Wacha’s right that he couldn’t catch cleanly, allowing Yastrzemski to score the game’s first run.
The Royals were facing rookie Mason Black, a former third-round pick with a 7.07 ERA in 28 big-league innings in his young career who had never pitched more than five innings in a start. If the offense could really hold its own against anyone, it would probably be the low-scoring rookie.
The Royals had a prime opportunity to score in the second when Yuli Gurriel and MJ Melendez led off with singles. Adam Frazier sacrificed them, giving the Royals two runners in scoring position. But as they have done so often in recent weeks, they left those runners behind when Maikel Garcia hit a line drive to first base and Kyle Isble flied out to center.
The Giants scored another run in the sixth inning when Ramos hit a double against Wacha – one of his three hits as he finished a home run just short of the cycle. Patrick Bailey brought him home with a single, making it 2-0 for the Giants. Wacha left the game after 5 2⁄3 innings and 96 pitches, allowed two runs on six hits and one walk and had five strikeouts.
Meanwhile, the Royals offense failed to get a runner into scoring position after the second inning against Black. He left the game after 5 2⁄3 Scoreless innings and relievers Sean Hjelle, Erik Miller and Tyler Rogers kept the Royals off the scoreboard, specifically second and third base.
The game ended in the ninth inning, where the Giants brought in 2023 All-Star closer Camilo Doval. But Doval has been shaky all year and was demoted to the minor leagues once this season. He walked the first two batters on eight pitches, giving the Royals a prime opportunity. After Adam Frazier struck out, Maikel Garcia hit a potential groundball double play. But shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald dropped the ball, leaving the bases loaded with one out.
Garrett Hampson hit a ball just down the left field line, then hit another ball that was JUST far enough off — so they checked it but didn’t pick it up. Hampson eventually scored the Royals’ only run on a flyout. That left the game to Tommy Pham, but he continued to struggle with his third strikeout of the game in an 0-for-5 night that left him 4-for-his-last-29-games with 12 strikeouts.
The Royals fall to 82-72 and will look to even the series tomorrow as Brady Singer is scheduled to face Landen Roupp. The Tigers lost to the Orioles tonight, so the Royals reduced their magic number to 7 tonight. But they’ll need to start playing offense soon if they want to secure a playoff spot.
