Caglianone blasts first two MLB home runs in Royals 4-1 win

By MATT PIKE

The Kansas City Royals swept the Texas Rangers behind three home runs, two of them by top prospect Jac Caglianone who finally showed off his power, winning 4-1 on Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Field. 

Kansas City first got on the board in the first inning on a two run home run by Vinnie Pasquantino.  After Bobby Witt Jr walked with one out in the inning, and Maikel Garcia flied out for the second out, Pasquantino stepped in and hit a home run to right field, his 11th of the year just inside the foul pole, to give the Royals a 2-0 lead. 

In the second inning, as Jacob Latz replaced Shawn Armstrong in a bullpen game for the Rangers, he was greeted on his first pitch by the Royals top prospect as Caglilanone took a pitch at his shoulders and put it into the Rangers bullpen for his first major league home run, showing off the promised power after struggling since being called up and not homering in his first 52 at bats. 

The Rangers cut into the lead in the sixth inning, Wyatt Langford singling and then scoring on a double by Marcus Semien, but Kanas City shut Texas down the rest of the way, and added one more insurance run in the ninth as Caglianone added to his day, also hitting his first MLB multi home run game, this time going over the Rangers bullpen for the 4-1 lead. 

Caglianone is the fourth Royals player in history to hit his first two home runs in the same game, joining the likes of Mark Quinn, U.L. Washington, and Jim Rooker (7/7/69). 

Michael Wacha earned the win, improving to 4-6 on the year, giving up just two hits and one run, while striking out five and walking two.  John Schreiber, Angel Zerpa, and Carlos Estévez combined to give up just one hit and struck out two, with Estévez earning his 21st save.  At the plate,  Caglianone was 2-for-4 with the two home runs.  Witt Jr was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. 

Kansas City continues the road trip next heading to San Diego.  Michael Lorenzen (4-7, 4.91 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals while the Padres starter is currently listed as TBD.  First pitch is at 8:40pm, pregame will begin at 8 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.