At this point in the season, every game is critical, particularly those against teams you are battling for a post-season spot. The Royals went to Cleveland to face a Guardians team just a half game back of them in the Wild Card race, and had an embarrassing series opener in a 10-2 loss Monday night. Royals’ hitters were held without a hit for the first seven frames in what was a blowout loss.
Ryan Bergert has pitched well for the Royals since being acquired, but he put up a stinker tonight. Facing a Guardians lineup that has struggled offensively nearly as much as the Royals, Bergert gave up a first-inning run on an RBI double by Kyle Manzardo. After a 1-2-3 second inning, he appeared to be back in control. But he had all sorts of trouble in the third and was lucky to escape with just one more run scored.
Things quickly went from bad to worse in the fourth. C.J. Kayfus and Brayan Rocchio hit back-to-back RBI doubles. Daniel Schneeman smacked an RBI double. Manzardo reached on an infield single to score another run. Nolan Jones hit a two-run double. Bergert finally departed after 3.1 innings and 8 runs allowed on 11 hits. He retired just nine of the 23 hitters he faced.
Daniel Lynch IV gave up a run in 1.2 innings of work, striking out three, and Jonathan Bowlan struck out three in a scoreless inning of work. Catcher Luke Maile had a scoreless frame in the ninth without allowing a hit. A two-way player!
Slade Cecconi came into this game with a 4.78 ERA, having given up a season-high 11 hits in his last start. But the Royals managed their only hit against him in the eighth when Michael Massey singled. Of course, he was quickly wiped out by a double play.
Jac Caglianone did manage a two-run single in the ninth off reliever Zak Kent, but the game was long over by that point. The Royals fall to 73-71 and slip behind the Guardians in the Wild Card race. They now have to pass them and the Rangers to get to the Mariners, who they trail by 2.5 games pending tonight’s Mariners/Cardinals game. The Royals will try to get back in the win column tomorrow night when Noah Cameron (7-6, 3.03 ERA) takes on left-hander Joey Cantillo (4-3, 3.73 ERA).
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