Well, that didn’t go too well.
The Royals lost Game 3 of a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins, squandering Cole Ruggans’ good start. For the Royals, quiet bats doomed them.
The Royals made things interesting in the late innings. After trailing 2-0, Maikel Garcia led off the eighth inning with a single, then Bobby Witt Jr. added a single of his own to move to third. With runners on first and third with no outs, Vinnie Pasquantino was at bat.
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When Pasiquantino drove up to Garcia with a sac fly, the rest of the group walked off quietly. Salvador Perez hit the ball too short and Bob was eliminated for the second time in a close game. Tolbert walked in for Salvy, stole second, and stayed there, while Jac Cagliano looked like a minor leaguer against Taylor Rogers.
The round is over, the threat is over.
But at least the Royals had cut the lead to one point. Steven Cruz came out of the bullpen to keep the game at one run until the Royals rallied in the bottom of the ninth.
Steven Cruz didn’t tie the game to a point.
Cruz has allowed just six home runs in his career three A solo home run in the top of the ninth inning included back-to-back hits from Cody Clemens and Josh Bell. Suddenly, the Twins were up 5-1.
The Royals went on a run in the bottom of the ninth, but Ryan Thomas’ double nearly sealed the victory. Kyle Isbell grunted to end the game.
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On the plus side, Cole Ruggans looks good. He allowed just one run (unearned) in six innings while striking out eight, walking one and allowing four hits.
Matt Strahm also had a good performance in the first inning.
But overall, the bullpen is still struggling. In addition to Cruz’s misfortune, John Schrieber needed to pitch 27 pitches to finish the eighth inning, which included allowing one run, striking out and loading the bases.
Also of note: Carter Jensen was scratched less than an hour before Game 1, and he came out late in the game, so it doesn’t look like he’s injured, which is good.
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Now, the Royals are back at .500 at 3-3. They welcome the Brewers to town tomorrow night.
