<\/p>\n
Things couldn\u2019t have gone much worse for the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a four-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n
Guardians pitcher Slade Cecconi came within six outs of a no-hitter and the Royals tied their season high in runs allowed on Monday. Cleveland rolled to a 10-2 victory and hopped over fellow postseason hopeful Kansas City in the American League wild-card standings.<\/p>\n
The series continues Tuesday with Royals left-hander Noah Cameron (7-6, 3.03 ERA) taking on Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo (4-3, 3.73).<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one game, so we just need to show up and forget about it,\u201d said Kansas City second baseman Michael Massey, whose leadoff single in the eighth spoiled Cecconi\u2019s bid to make history.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing how important these games are certainly makes it more stressful than not. But you\u2019d rather have it that way because the other side means you\u2019re not playing for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleveland (73-70) and Kansas City (73-71) are both pursuing the Mariners, who sit in the third and final AL wild-card position. Seattle holds a 1 1\/2-game edge over the Texas Rangers and is 2 1\/2 up on the Guardians and three ahead of the Royals.<\/p>\n
While Cecconi couldn\u2019t pull off the franchise\u2019s first no-no in 44 years, the right-hander snapped his eight-start winless streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody in that locker room believes that we\u2019re a playoff team and we\u2019ve believed that since the day we showed up to spring training,\u201d said Cecconi, who tossed eight scoreless innings and gave up one hit and three walks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not a guy who doesn\u2019t believe we belong in October and we\u2019re going to keep working our butts off. We\u2019re not going to give up or give in, no matter how tight this race is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said, \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have Slade take a no-hitter into the eighth and to see the bats come alive, but there\u2019s no momentum in baseball. It\u2019s only as good as the next day\u2019s starting pitcher.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cantillo has been terrific in his past three starts, going 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA. Road wins over the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox were sandwiched around a hard-luck loss to the Atlanta Braves.<\/p>\n
In four career appearances against Kansas City, Cantillo is 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA. His only start vs. the Royals came on July 27, and he yielded three runs on three hits and four walks in four innings. He struck out four.<\/p>\n
Cameron, who arrived in the majors in late April, will make his second start against Cleveland after tossing five scoreless innings vs. Cantillo in a July 27 home win. He yielded three hits and a walk while fanning six.<\/p>\n
Cameron hasn\u2019t won in his last three outings, giving up 11 runs in 14 2\/3 innings for a 6.75 ERA.<\/p>\n
The Royals\u2019 only highlight in the series opener was provided by right fielder Jac Caglianone, who had a two-run single in the ninth off Zak Kent. It was his first RBI since coming off the injured list on Sept. 1, having recovered from a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cCecconi had a great game, but short-term memory is a positive,\u201d Caglianone said. \u201cI kind of feel like that\u2019s the beauty of baseball. Sometimes, you do everything right and have nothing to show for it. We\u2019ll start fresh (Tuesday).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n