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American League Central foes, pay close attention to the \u201cobjects in mirror may be closer than they appear\u201d note in your rear view mirror. After a less-than-stellar April, the Kansas City Royals have won all five of their games in May and are now half a game out of first place. Kansas City\u2019s efficient 5-3 victory against the Guardians marks the second consecutive win against Cleveland and ensures a series split an minimum.<\/p>\n
The Royals got their first runs on the board extremely quickly. Maikel Garcia<\/a> led off with a walk and a sassy little bat toss, and Bobby Witt Jr. followed that up with a line drive double. Though Vinnie Pasquantino<\/a> hit a harmless infield popup, Salvador Perez<\/a> knocked a line drive to right field to score Garcia and Witt. Royals lead, 2-0. Kansas City starting pitcher Stephen Kolek<\/a>\u2014throwing from the mound in place of Noah Cameron<\/a>, who\u2019s sidelined due to a back spasm\u2014surely appreciated it.<\/p>\n After that, Carter Jensen<\/a> struck out (as did Jac Caglianone<\/a>). This would be a theme of the night.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Kansas City nearly scored again in the second inning, as an Isaac Collins<\/a> single and Kyle Isbel<\/a> walk put runners on first and second with one out and bring Garcia and Witt up to bat for the second time in two innings. Unfortunately, they couldn\u2019t push a run across.<\/p>\n This loomed large two innings later. Kolek had largely trucked through the Guardians lineup, but Cleveland started to make some seriously hard contact in the fourth inning. Chase DeLauter<\/a> led off with a single, after which Royals nemesis Kyle Manzardo<\/a> singled. Rhys Hoskins<\/a> then launched a line drive barely fair inside the left field foul pole for a three-run home run to put Cleveland ahead 3-2.<\/p>\n But that was really it for the Guardians offense against Kolek, who turned in a perfectly acceptable, even laudable, performance. Kolek pitched six full innings and didn\u2019t walk anybody, striking out three and only giving up those three runs.<\/p>\n Cleveland wasn\u2019t able to enjoy its meager lead very long. In the bottom of the same inning they scored three, the Royals roared back. Caglianone struck out (I told you, this was a theme), but then Collins notched his second hit of the night\u2014a hustle double to the gap. Then, Cleveland starter Gavin Williams<\/a> worked Michael Massey to a 1-2 count. Williams unleashed a pitch that was close but was called a ball, and the Guardians challenged. The ball stood, bringing the count even.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n And the very next pitch, Massey turned into his alter ego MICHAEL MASHEY and crushed a no-doubter to right field for a two-run shot that put the Royals back on top, 4-3.<\/p>\n Once again, the Royals threatened in the fifth, but another Pasquantino popup and Salvy double play de-fanged the situation. And once again, a different Royals batter picked him up: Collins, whose solo home run in the sixth inning won someone $100 in the Sonic Slam Inning and gave the Royals some additional wiggle room. It was Collins\u2019 third hit of the night.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Collins wasn\u2019t able to get a fourth at bat and chance for the cycle, because the rest of the game was relatively perfunctory. Lucas Erceg<\/a> did walk a batter in the ninth, but it was with two outs and he managed to get a quick groundout. Lights Out Lucas did it again. Royals win, 5-3.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n And that trend Jensen was on? He struck out four times, earning the ignominious (yet unofficial) \u2018Golden Sombrero\u2019 moniker. Fortunately him, tonight was Taco Tuesday Cinco de Mayo. Let\u2019s just say that Jensen is a cultural ambassador and be pleased with it.<\/p>\n \u201cReally good Major League pitcher.\u201d \u2013 Matt Quatraro, on how he views Stephen Kolek<\/p>\nQuotes of the game<\/h2>\n