{"id":2361749,"date":"2026-04-07T01:33:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T01:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2361749"},"modified":"2026-04-07T01:33:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T01:33:36","slug":"rare-defensive-play-fuels-kc-royals-4-2-win-over-guardians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/rare-defensive-play-fuels-kc-royals-4-2-win-over-guardians\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare defensive play fuels KC Royals\u2019 4-2 win over Guardians"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/p>\nCLEVELAND<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kansas City Royals needed a quality start.<\/p>\n

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After a tough home series<\/a> against the Milwaukee Brewers, the bullpen was taxed coming into Monday\u2019s game against the Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n

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Royals starter Michael Wacha answered the call \u2014 with some help. Wacha allowed one earned run in six innings as the Royals won 4-2 over the Guardians at Progressive Field.<\/p>\n

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It was his first start in eight days. Last week, the Royals pushed Wacha due to illness, which granted him additional rest.<\/p>\n

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That paid off against the Guardians.<\/p>\n

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Wacha was efficient in the strike zone<\/a>. He navigated the Cleveland lineup primarily with his four-seam fastball, changeup and cutter. The heater registered 10 of 12 first-pitch strikes and generated 14 swings, per Statcast.<\/p>\n

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The Guardians didn\u2019t have many chances. All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan hit a solo homer in the third, but Wacha limited the damage. He worked out of trouble in the fourth and sixth innings, thanks in large part to his defense.<\/p>\n

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Royals record rare double play<\/h2>\n

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The Royals pulled off a rare 5-6-4-3 double play<\/a> to end the fourth. Guardians designated hitter Rhys Hoskins lined a ball off Maikel Garcia\u2019s glove. The baseball trickled over to Bobby Witt Jr., who fired to Jonathan India for an out at second.<\/p>\n

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India then threw to first and got Hoskins in time. The defensive play kept the score tied at 1-1 \u2014 and more importantly kept Wacha\u2019s pitch count manageable.<\/p>\n

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#Royals<\/a> infield collaborates on incredible double play in the fourth inning: <\/p>\n

Maikel Garcia –> Bobby Witt Jr. –> Jonathan India –> Vinnie Pasquantino \ud83d\ude33 pic.twitter.com\/LbYGobU39W<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jaylon T. Thompson (@jaylonthompson) April 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

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In the sixth, Vinnie Pasquantino added another double play. He caught a line drive off Kyle Manzardo\u2019s bat and threw to Witt to pick off Chase DeLauter at second.<\/p>\n

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Both defensive plays kept the Guardians off the scoreboard.<\/p>\n

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Carter Jensen redeems himself<\/h2>\n

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The Royals built their offense behind India and Carter Jensen.<\/p>\n

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Jensen finished 2-for-4. He hit the go-ahead homer in the sixth inning off Guardians reliever Peyton Pallette, just days after a gaffe took him out of the lineup<\/a> back at home.<\/p>\n

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India added key insurance runs in the eighth inning. He hit a two-run homer over the left-field wall \u2014 his second of the season \u2014 and finished with three RBIs.<\/p>\n

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The Royals improved to 5-5. They bested Guardians starter Tanner Bibee, who entered with a career 3.19 ERA in eight starts against the Royals.<\/p>\n

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Bibee allowed just one earned run in 4 \u2154 innings, but Cleveland dropped to 6-5.<\/p>\n

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Wacha won his first game of the 2026 season. The Royals\u2019 bullpen allowed a run as Brayan Rocchio hit a solo homer in the eighth. However, Lucas Erceg shut the door with his third save of the year.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s next:<\/b> Royals left-hander Noah Cameron (1-0, 1.80 ERA) will start opposite the Guardians\u2019 Gavin WIlliams (1-1, 2.25 ERA) on Tuesday afternoon at Progressive Field. First pitch is set for 12:10 p.m. Central.<\/p>\n

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Related Stories from Kansas City Star<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Jaylon Thompson<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Kansas City Star<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jaylon Thompson covers the Royals for The Kansas City Star. He previously covered the 2021 World Series and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n