Wacha throws seven sharp innings, Royals dump Guardians

KANSAS CITY — Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo homer ignited a four-run fourth inning, Michael Wacha threw seven solid innings Monday night and the Kansas City Royals won their fourth straight game, 6-2 against the Cleveland Guardians.

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.

The Guardians, who have dropped two straight following 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.

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 in 10⅓ innings while losing each of his previous two starts.

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 frame 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 contest.

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.

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.

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 base on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on Pasquantino’s single to right field.