Pasquantino homers twice, career high RBI's as Royals win 9-3

By MATT PIKE

For just the second time in his career, Vinnie Pasquantino hit two home runs in a game, and recorded a career high six RBI’s as the Kansas City Royals opened a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 9-3 win on Independence Day. 

Pasquantino’s first home run opened the scoring for the Royals in the first inning.  After Jonathan India was hit by a pitch and Bobby Witt Jr singled, Pasquantino homered to right field, his 13th of the season.  The Diamondbacks cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the inning, a sacrifice fly by Eugenio Suárez driving in Ketel Marte for the first run before  Josh Naylor’s single brought home Geraldo Perdomo.

Kansas City added three more runs in the second inning, first extending the lead on an RBI single by Witt Jr, driving in Freddy Fermin, and keeping the bases loaded moving India to second and John Rave to third.  Pasquantino drove in his fourth run of the day with a single, scoring Rave, and again keeping the bases loaded, setting the table for India to score as Salvador Perez grounded into a force out, with Pasquantino out at second as Perez beat the throw to first. 

After Witt Jr singled to open the fourth inning, the Royals added more insurance runs as Pasquantino hit his second home run of the game, driving in Witt Jr. 

In the fifth, Kansas City added their final run on yet another home run, this time by Mark Canha, hitting his first home run of the season. Arizona’s final run came in the next inning on a solo home run by Suárez.

Kris Bubic looked like his early season self, earning the win and improving to 7-6 on the season, pitching seven innings and giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking three.  At the plate, Pasquantino was 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI’s.  Witt Jr was also 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.  

Kansas City and Arizona continue their series on Saturday.  Michael Wacha (4-8, 3.62 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals against Ryne Nelson (4-2, 3.61 ERA) for the Diamondbacks.  First pitch is at 3:10pm, pregame coverage begins at 2:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.