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The Royals found themselves in familiar territory Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n
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They took an early lead \u2014 like, first-inning early \u2014 before the Guardians claimed the lead themselves.<\/p>\n
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But the boys in blue continued their run of productive at-bats and flashed some power from unexpected places in a 5-3 win over the Guardians.<\/p>\n
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The Royals have won five straight overall, and they\u2019ve overcome a deficit in six of their last seven wins, dating back to April 26.<\/p>\n
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And there\u2019s more good news: The Royals are amid a 10-game stretch against AL Central opponents, giving them the chance to creep up the standings.<\/p>\n
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After Tuesday\u2019s action, they remain in fourth (17-19), but only a half-game back of the division-leading Guardians and Detroit Tigers, both 18-19. The White Sox entered the day 17-18.<\/p>\n
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The Royals got the bats going in their first four plate appearances. Bobby Witt Jr. was the spark once again for the club.<\/p>\n
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After leadoff hitter Maikel Garcia began the game with a walk, Witt hit a double to right field on the first pitch, putting both runners in scoring position. Vinnie Pasquantino popped up the next pitch.<\/p>\n
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With one out, Salvador Perez took a four-seam fastball to right center and cleared the bases with a single, giving the Royals an early 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n
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The lead only lasted three innings before Cleveland\u2019s bats responded.<\/p>\n
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Cleveland took the lead in the fourth inning, thanks to a three-run shot from home run juggernaut Rhys Hoskins that bounced off the left field pole at 343 feet. Hoskins\u2019 third homer of the year would\u2019ve been a home run in half of the major league ballparks, according to Baseball Savant.<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But the Royals snatched the lead back in the bottom of the fourth with some home run magic of their own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Left fielder Isaac Collins got his second hit of the night, using his speed to reach second for a double. The next at-bat, second baseman Michael Massey<\/a> smashed a Gavin Williams curveball 392 feet into the right field stands to take a 4-3 lead. It was Massey\u2019s second homer of the season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the sixth inning, Collins crushed an 86 mph sweeper 382 feet to right field for his third home run of the season, and tacked on some insurance with a 5-3 lead. It brought Collins to within a triple of the cycle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals ended the night with eight hits; Massey and Witt each recorded two hits while Collins led the way with three.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Right-hander Stephen Kolek provided Kansas City\u2019s 19th quality start of the season in his 2026 debut. Through six innings, he held Cleveland to four hits, three runs and a home run while collecting three strikeouts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Right-handed reliever Nick Mears handled the seventh in three at-bats with no problem, getting a strikeout on the way. Lefty Daniel Lynch IV stepped on the mound in the eighth, allowing only a walk (thanks to an overturned ABS challenge by pinch hitter David Fry) but handled the side quickly after.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nKC takes the lead back<\/h2>\n