The first few innings of this game were pretty fun. Still, the Royals ultimately lost 12-6 thanks to some bad pitching and the bats cooling off.
The Royals got a leadoff walk from Carter Jensen and a single from Lane Thomas to put runners on at first and second with no outs. Jac Caglianone hit a hard grounder up the middle, but, as has been the custom for several years, an infielder was waiting to turn what was once one of the prettiest hits in baseball into a routine double play.
In the top of the second, Isaac Collins led off the inning by lacing a triple into right-center that appeared to be misplayed by Brenton Doyle. He scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Michael Massey.
In the top of the third, Tyler Tolbert roped a double off the wall in right-center. It seemed like he should have gotten a triple, but he stopped at second. Moments later, he stole third to repair the mistake. Then it seemed the Royals would waste the opportunity when Carter and Lane grounded out and popped out respectively. Add another potential baserunning mistake by Tolbert for not going home on the groundball which required extra effort from Will Castro.
Still, Jac Caglianone came through. And then Salvador Perez went back-to-back.
Luinder Avila pitched two scoreless innings to start the game but things came unraveled in the bottom of the third. He allowed six runs, including a three-run bomb from Hunter Goodman, and was relieved by Easton McGee.
The Royals immediately got back on the basepaths when Michael Massey and John Rave singled with one out in the fourth inning, but they were stranded. From there, the Royals bullpen (including McGee, Matt Strahm, Alex Lange, and Lucas Erceg) did bullpen things. None of us were paying attention because Lane Thomas was pulled from the game in the bottom of the fourth as he was traded to Atlanta. You can read more about that here.
Rave did hit a home run in the ninth inning, his MLB OPS this year continues to ride above 1.000 as he waits to be allowed to get his sample sizes larger. Hopefully he’ll get that opportunity with Thomas and likely Starling Marte leaving in the next couple of days. The Royals scored their final run when Carter Jensen tripled into right and came home on a Marte single.
For a game that was over after three innings, it took forever to turn final. The Royals have dropped their first two game in Colorado to a team that is on its way to 100 losses. Things are not looking up. They get a chance to avoid the sweep tomorrow. Seth Lugo (4.22 ERA, 4.55 SIERA) will face off against Kyle Freeland (7.34 ERA, 4.16 SIERA). See you then.
