Kansas City Royals amplia sequência com vitória por 5-3 sobre Guardians

The Royals found themselves in familiar territory Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.

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They took an early lead — like, first-inning early — before the Guardians claimed the lead themselves.

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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.

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The Royals have won five straight overall, and they’ve overcome a deficit in six of their last seven wins, dating back to April 26.

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And there’s more good news: The Royals are amid a 10-game stretch against AL Central opponents, giving them the chance to creep up the standings.

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After Tuesday’s 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.

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Royals’ offense started hot

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The lead only lasted three innings before Cleveland’s bats responded.

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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’ third homer of the year would’ve been a home run in half of the major league ballparks, according to Baseball Savant.

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But the Royals snatched the lead back in the bottom of the fourth with some home run magic of their own.

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KC takes the lead back

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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 smashed a Gavin Williams curveball 392 feet into the right field stands to take a 4-3 lead. It was Massey’s second homer of the season.

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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.

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The Royals ended the night with eight hits; Massey and Witt each recorded two hits while Collins led the way with three.

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Right-hander Stephen Kolek provided Kansas City’s 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.

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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.

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The lights went dark before closer Lucas Erceg was handed the ball, and he got his 10th save of the season, good for top-3 in MLB.

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Up next: Game 3 against the Guardians is set for 6:40 p.m. Wednesday with Royals ace Cole Ragans (1-4, 5.29 ERA) and Cleveland’s Joey Cantillo (1-1, 3.67) as the probable starters.