Guardians lose series opener against Royals 2-1 | News, Sports, Jobs

Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez looks toward first base after catching an outfielder’s throw to limit Hunter Renfroe of the Kansas City Royals to a single during the third inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Kyle Isbel and Maikel Garcia hit back-to-back triples to start a sixth-inning comeback, and Vinnie Pasquantino delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly that gave the Kansas City Royals a 2-1 victory over the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night.

Sam Long (2-1) earned the win as a reliever, getting out of Michael Wacha’s pinch in the sixth inning and then taking the team out of the game in the seventh. John Schreiber took care of the eighth inning before James McArthur earned his 14th save with a perfect ninth inning.

Ben Lively (7-4) got help against one of his former teams from a Cleveland defense that turned two double plays, negating leadoff singles. The right-hander allowed two runs on six hits and one walk in six innings.

Wacha allowed one run on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, with six strikeouts.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected by third baseman umpire Tripp Gibson for contesting a call in the fifth inning.

Nick Loftin appeared to dodge a tag on a Hunter Renfroe grounder, but Gibson said Loftin strayed off the basepath and was ruled an out — even though he was never farther out than when he was about to round third base and run home. Quatraro argued for a minute, then turned to head back to the dugout when Gibson threw him out.

It seemed to have Kansas City on fire.

The Guardians were holding onto a 1-0 lead created by Daniel Schneemann’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning when Isbel began the sixth with a triple to right field, narrowly beating Schneemann’s throw to third base. Garcia followed with his own triple to right, again sliding in just ahead of Schneemann’s throw to tie the game.

Two batters later, Pasquantino followed with a sacrifice fly to give Kansas City the lead.

Both teams wasted plenty of chances. The Guardians loaded the bases in the second and sixth innings, leaving a total of nine runners behind. And the Royals had leadoff singles in three consecutive innings but couldn’t produce anything.

Help along the way

The Guardians agreed to a deal with left-hander Matthew Boyd on Thursday, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Boyd, 33, who underwent reconstructive elbow surgery last year, has yet to pass a medical exam. In 15 starts for Detroit last season, he went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA.

Squad changes

The Guardians placed OF Will Brennan (rib inflammation) on the injured list, effective Tuesday. They recalled INF José Tena and RHP Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Columbus. RHP Xzavion Curry was sent to the same club on Wednesday night.

NEXT

Cleveland’s RHP Triston McKenzie (3-4, 4.66 ERA) will face Kansas City’s RHP Alec Marsh (5-5, 4.40) on Friday night.