Royals split Saturday doubleheader with Brewers

By MATT PIKE

The Kansas City Royals split a Saturday doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers after inclement weather in the Kansas City area postponed Friday’s matchup, falling in game one 5-2, and using a big six run inning to spark an 8-2 win in game two.

In the opener to the day, the Brewers got to Luinder Avila early in his first career major league start, after appearing primarily from the bullpen last season.  In the first inning, Milwaukee scored two runs, a Garrett Mitchell double driving in Luis Rengifo and Christian Yelich.  In the third inning it was Mitchell again, hitting a three run home run off Avila, driving in Yelich once more along with William Contreras for the 5-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Nick Loftin led off the inning with a walk for the Royals, and scored to break up the shutout on a double from Lane Thomas.  Thomas advanced to third on a groundout by Maikel Garcia and then came home to score the second Kansas City run as Bobby Witt Jr hit a single driving in the only other run of the game. 

Avila took the loss pitching three innings and giving up all five runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three.  At the plate in the opener, Jac Caglianone led the way going 2-for-3 with a walk.  Witt Jr. was 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI.

The second game started off more in Kansas City’s favor as the Royals scored the first runs of the game in the second inning.  With two runners on, after a Salvador Perez walk and a single by Jonathan India, Carter Jensen doubled down the right field line to drive in both runners giving Kansas City a 2-0 lead early in the matchup. 

Milwaukee though tied up the game the next inning off of Royals starter Seth Lugo.  David Hamilton hit a leadoff single and Lugo struck out the next two batters, but with two outs Brice Turang hit a triple into left field to cut the Kansas City lead to one.  After the triple, it was Mitchell striking again, hitting an RBI double to score Turang and tie the game 2-2 at the end of three innings as Kansas City couldn’t score in the bottom half of the inning. 

The captain Perez sparked a rally in the sixth inning however, which proved to be the only runs the Royals needed the rest of the way.  With one out, Perez hit a solo home run to center field, his second home run of the season, to put Kansas City back on top. 

Caglianone struck out for the second out of the inning, but then the Royals kept the line moving as four straight singles by India, Jensen, Isaac Collins, and Kyle Isbel extended the lead to 5-2, with Isbel and Collins driving in runs.  A double from Garcia pushed added one more run, scoring Collins, then after an intentional walk to Witt Jr loaded the bases, Vinnie Pasquantino reached on a fielding error, driving in Isbel, and a wild pitch brought home Garcia for the 8-2 lead. 

Nick Mears earned the win for Kansas City in relief, pitching a scoreless, hitless sixth inning.  Eli Morgan, serving as the 27th man for the doubleheader, pitched three innings of relief, giving up one hit and walking one while striking out five, to earn the save.  At the plate, Garcia led the way going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.  Jensen was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk in the win.  India was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Kansas City and Milwaukee will wrap up their series tomorrow.  Kris Bubic (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 4K’s) will make the start for the Royals going against Kyle Harrison (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 8K’s) for the Brewers.  First pitch is at 1:10pm, pregame will air at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.