Wacha's no hit bid broken up in seventh as Royals win pitchers duel 1-0

By MATT PIKE

A pitchers duel between the Kansas City Royals number four starter, Michael Wacha, and last years American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers ace, ended with a 1-0 win for the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

The day started out with the Royals celebrating a World Series winner, as former third baseman Mike Moustakas retired as a Kansas City Royal during a ceremony before the game.  Moustakas slashed .251/.306/.430 with 139 home runs over parts of eight seasons as a Royal. His 38 home runs in 2017 set a single-season club record at the time until Jorge Soler hit 48 in 2019.  Moustakas was traded to the Brewers in 2018, and would go on to play for the Reds, Rockies and Angels. The three-time All-Star finished his 13-year career with 215 home runs.

The game flew by, lasting just two hours, as both pitchers were on top of their game once things got underway.  Wacha, carried a no hitter into the seventh inning, only allowing one baserunner walking Gleyber Torres in the fourth inning, while Skubal gave up just two hits, a single to Freddy Fermin in the third and a single to Nick Loftin in the fifth, striking out seven batters.  In the seventh, Wacha gave a up a single to Colt Keith, but retired the next two batters to get out of the inning. 

The Royals struck in the eighth inning, getting the only hit on the day between both teams with a runner in scoring position.  After Loftin doubled off reliever Beau Brieske, a single from Vinnie Pasquantino into left field, bringing home Loftin who beat the offline throw for the lone score of the game, setting Kansas City up to bring on Carlos Estévez for the save. 

Estévez retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single, again to Keith, but then forced Riley Greene to groundout to end the game, earning his 16th save.   With his 16th save of the season, Estévez tied Royals Hall of Famer Jeff Montgomery’s franchise record for saves by the end of May.

John Schreiber earned the win in relief, improving to 2-2 on the season, striking out two and walking one in the eighth inning.  Wacha struck out six batters through his seven innings of work, walking one and giving up one hit.  The last time Wacha threw seven innings of one-hit ball was May 15, 2023 with the Padres, when he took a no-hitter into the 8th inning, against the Royals, before Michael Massey led off the inning with a single to prompt a pitching change.

On a day where both teams combined for just six hits, it was Loftin who led at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.  Loftin also made an impressive diving catch in the outfield, after Wacha had given up the single to Keith, to prevent another hit. 

Kansas City and Detroit wrap up their series tomorrow.  Kris Bubic (5-2, 1.45 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals in the finale against Keider Montero (2-1, 4.54 ERA) for the Tigers.  First pitch is at 1:10pm, with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.