Royals win series but drop finale to Nationals 8-7

By MATT PIKE

The Kansas City Royals came from behind, battling back after giving up five runs in the first inning, but fell giving up a run in the ninth inning, winning the series but dropping the finale to the Washington Nationals 8-7 at Kauffman Stadium. 

An early grand slam put the first runs on the board for the Nationals in the first inning, Nathaniel Lowe putting the ball over the right field wall and driving in James Wood, Luis Garcia, and Josh Bell with one out in the inning.  Daylen Lile singled following the grand slam then scored in the next at bat on an RBI double by Drew Millas for the final run of the inning putting Washington up 5-0 at the end of their half of the first. 

Kansas City cut the lead to three in the bottom half, Vinnie Pasquantino driving in the first run on a groundout and scoring Mike Yastrzemski after he led the inning off with a walk.  With two outs Bobby Witt Jr scored the second run on an RBI single by Adam Frazier.  The Royals did add one more run in the second inning following a scoreless frame by the Nationals, Witt Jr’s RBI single driving in John Rave after his leadoff single to the second.  

Leading 5-3 Washington extended their lead in the third inning with an RBI single by Brady House, scoring Lile, and moved farther ahead in the fourth inning on a home run by CJ Abrams.  In the bottom half of the fourth, Kansas City again cut into the lead, cutting it to one run on a three run home run from Pasquantino, driving in Yastrzemski and Witt Jr to put the Royals down 7-6 at the end of four innings. 

The Royals did finally tie the game in the eighth inning, a sacrifice fly from Witt Jr scoring Tyler Tolbert who pinch ran for Kyle Isbel, but in the ninth inning against closer Carlos Estévez, with two outs, Luis Garcia scored on an RBI single by Lile.  In the bottom half, Kansas City did get the tying run to third base with two outs, but Tolbert grounded into a force out to end the game. 

Estévez took the loss, falling to 4-5 on the season, pitching just the one inning and giving up the one run on two hits while striking out one and walking one.  At the plate, Witt Jr was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.  Pasquantino was 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs.

Kansas City is off on Thursday before hosting Chicago on Friday.  Noah Cameron (6-5, 2.52 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Royals against Aaron Civale (3-7, 4.91 ERA) for the White Sox.  First pitch is at 7:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.