Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo home run ignited a four-run fourth inning, Michael Wacha pitched seven solid innings and the Kansas City Royals won their fourth consecutive game, 6-2 over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on May 4.
Vinnie Pasquantino added two hits with an RBI for the Royals, who overcame an early 2-0 hole to win for the ninth time in 12 games after losing eight in a row.
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians head coach Stephen Vogt in the dugout prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians head coach Stephen Vogt in the dugout prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Guardians, who have dropped two straight after a three-game winning streak, opened the scoring in the second inning. Rookie Travis Bazzana singled to right field with one out, then David Fry (2-for-3) sent a Wacha cutter over the left-center field fence for his second homer in three games.
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That was all the damage allowed by Wacha (3-2), who gave up four hits and a walk to get back on track from yielding 10 runs over 10⅓ innings while losing each of his previous two starts.
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee (0-5), who entered 4-0 in nine career starts vs. Kansas City, didn’t allow a hit until the fourth. That’s when Witt opened the inning by sending a hanging slider beyond the bullpen past the left field wall. Pasquantino followed with a double and scored on Salvador Perez‘s grounder that glanced off the second base bag and through Bazzana’s legs, allowing Kansas City to tie the score.
Bibee then loaded the bases with no outs but struck out Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins before Nick Loftin‘s single through the shortstop hole plated two for a 4-2 Kansas City lead.
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Bibee was done after four innings, having allowed four runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. He threw 39 of his 77 pitches in the fourth inning.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iv‡n Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iv‡n Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Cleveland Guardians center fielder Daniel Schneemann, left, almost collides with right fielder Angel Martinez as he catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals’ Alec Burleson (not pictured) on April 13, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning on April 12, 2026, in Cumberland, Georgia.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick throws against the Atlanta Braves on April 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Apr 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Apr 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez (1) celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Cleveland Guardians rookie Juan Brito hits a double for his first career hit during the second inning of his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals on April 7, 2026, in Cleveland.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the franchise’s all time leader in games played during a game against the Kansas City Royals on April 6, 2026, in Cleveland.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Cleveland Guardians’ CJ Kayfus celebrates his solo home run with designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs on April 5, 2026, in Cleveland.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) makes a catch in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez slides safely into second base during the home opener against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, in Cleveland.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Apr 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Daniel Schneemann (10) steals third base during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) reacts after hitting a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Mar 29, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) scores a run off an RBI double hit by Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) celegbrates with centerfielder Steven Kwan (38) after hitting a two-run home run during the tenth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Mar 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
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Cleveland Guardians photo of the day: Best images from each 2026 game
Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Caglianone went deep in the sixth, sending a Matt Festa pitch well over the right field wall for a two-out solo homer.
The Royals added another run in the seventh. Witt reached on an error, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on Pasquantino’s single to right.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at [email protected].
