Mitch Spence was recalled from AAA for a start tonight, and it did not go very well as the Royals lost 7-3 to the Nationals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The game was full of grounders on both sides (yes there were a few liners too) that were just on the cusp of finding a glove. A few of them squeaked through for hits, yes, but the key hits that kind of summarized the game for me were just out of reach of Royals defenders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In the third inning, Nasim Nu\u00f1ez singled (after a groundout from the previous guy). James Wood hit a line drive double that bounced just as it got to the outfield grass. Perez was holding Nu\u00f1ez on first because they were afraid of him stealing. Saying Nu\u00f1ez is a \u201clight\u201d hitter is an understatement (a 50 wRC+), but he\u2019s second in MLB in stolen bases. He was gonna steal for sure. As a result, Perez was not in position to catch Wood\u2019s line drive, which probably would have been caught easily had Perez not been holding Nu\u00f1ez at the base.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
All the song and dance was not necessary anyway as Wood\u2019s line drive brought Nu\u00f1ez to third. Curtis Mead then hit a little liner to Nick Loftin, who *was* well-positioned to catch it. Loftin took a few steps back and leaped\u2026but the ball bounced off the top of his glove. If the 5\u201911\u201d Loftin were instead 6\u20190\u201d, I think this is an out, which would have ended the inning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Alas, both runners came around to score (before a groundout ended the inning).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In the fifth inning, Spence loaded the bases on a grounder single, another grounder single, and a walk with no outs. Luis Garc\u00eda Jr flared a liner to left field, which Isaac Collins was not actually close to catching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/platform.royalsreview.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/140\/2026\/06\/Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-8.14.02PM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nUnfortunately, Collins flubbed the bounce and two runners scored. That put the Nationals ahead 4-3, a lead they never gave up. At least one runner would have scored on the play anyway, but this just adds insult to injury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nQ subbed out Spence for Mason Black, who got two non-groundball outs. That brought up Dylan Crews, who entered the night hitting under the Mendoza line. On a 3-2 count, Black threw a slider that did absolutely zero sliding. Crews hit a line drive rocket over the left field fence that would make SpaceX blush. That ball seemed like it was still rising when it hit the seats. The ball probably had a rapid, unscheduled disassembly when it landed. I can\u2019t say for sure but it seemed like that was the only truly barreled ball the entire game. With that homer, the Nationals took a 7-3 lead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The only Royals offense once the Nationals were ahead that far was a double from Nick Loftin in the ninth inning, again a grounder just out of reach of the third baseman. But one hit isn\u2019t enough when the deficit is four runs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I should note how the Royals scored, since they did briefly hold a lead. In the fourth inning, Starling Marte reached out a grounder that was deflected off the Nats pitcher. Loftin walked. Carter Jensen hit a routine-looking grounder to the second baseman, who misplayed it off his glove (notice the theme?).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n