<\/p>\n
The struggling Kansas City Royals will try to avoid a three-game sweep against the host Washington Nationals when they conclude their series on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The Royals rallied to tie Tuesday\u2019s game in the seventh only to see Curtis Mead smack a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. The Nationals went on to record a 6-4 victory.<\/p>\n
To add injury to insult, third baseman Maikel Garcia left the game in the sixth inning with left hand soreness.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been dealing with some left hand soreness and it bothers him sometimes when he fouls a ball off or swings and misses,\u201d Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said after the game. \u201cAnd it just flared up on him today more so than usual.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Royals have lost six of seven games overall and fell to 12-24 on the road. Their .392 winning percentage is last in the American League.<\/p>\n
Luinder Avila (1-3, 6.19 ERA) has the task of trying to cool the Washington offense Wednesday afternoon. He will be opposed by fellow right-hander Zack Littell (6-5, 5.32).<\/p>\n
Avila will be making his 14th appearance of the season and fourth consecutive start. <\/p>\n
After two strong outings, he was torched by the Houston Astros on Friday. He allowed eight runs on five hits \u2014 including two homers by Yordan Alvarez \u2014 and three walks in just two-thirds of an inning.<\/p>\n
\u201cTough inning,\u201d Avila said through a translator. \u201cI was prepared. It didn\u2019t turn out to be like the last two starts, but you have to face it head on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avila, 23, threw one scoreless inning against Washington last season.<\/p>\n
Littell, meanwhile, saw a very impressive string of appearances come to end on Friday. <\/p>\n
After seven outings in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer, Littell yielded five runs on four hits in 1 2\/3 innings in a 10-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s what\u2019s frustrating about baseball in general, to have the stuff, command to feel good like I did tonight and the result not been there,\u201d Littell said.<\/p>\n
Littell is 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in 12 career games (one start) versus the Royals.<\/p>\n
Kansas City saw its bullpen come up short on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
The Royals added veteran reliever Connor Seabold in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Seabold, 30, has a 0-1 record with a 4.05 ERA in 17 appearances this season.<\/p>\n
Quartraro said Seabold gives the team another middle reliever with experience.<\/p>\n
Bobby Witt Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI Tuesday and Lane Thomas homered against his former team.<\/p>\n
Washington has scored 31 runs while winning four straight games. In addition to Mead\u2019s heroics Tuesday, Nasim Nunez made a diving catch, had two triples, two walks, stole a base and scored three runs.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy best big league performance, in my opinion,\u201d the 25-year-old Nunez said. \u201cIt was pretty cool. I showed off all my tools, and then we came out with the win \u2014 and even bigger, a series win at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Washington has won four consecutive series and improved to 16-21 at home.<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n