The Royals have few answers in the pen.
Royals relievers gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings of work, blowing an eighth-inning lead in an 8-5 loss to the Cardinals Friday night.
Michael Lorenzen was shaky from the start for the Royals. He walked Masyn Winn to begin the game, then later gave up a two-run home run to Willson Contreras. The Cardinals put two more hitters on base before Lorenzen escaped without further damage. But the Cardinals plated another run in the third when Alec Burleson hit a solo home run to make it 3-0.
The Royals got those runs back in the bottom of the inning off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Maikel Garcia led off with a single, followed by an RBI triple by Kyle Isbel. Michael Massey knocked him home, then advanced to second on a ground out and scored on a Salvador Perez RBI single.
After an RBI single from Massey, el capitán keeps the line moving and ties the game up! #Royals pic.twitter.com/P2p47hlUhx
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) August 10, 2024
Garcia got the scoring going in the fourth as well, smacking a double to score MJ Melendez. He advanced to third on an Isbel single and scored on a Massey sac fly to make it 5-3 Royals.
Lorenzen found more trouble in the fifth, putting two runners on with one out before he was finally lifted. He lasted just 4 1⁄3 innings and 88 pitches, allowing six hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Sam Long got Nolan Arenado to line into a double play to end the threat, but ran into trouble himself in the sixth. He walked Paul Goldschmidt, then gave up a double to Nolan Gorman, who struggles against lefties. Goldschmidt would score on a Tommy Pham ground out to pull the Cardinals within a run.
Lucas Erceg was nails with a scoreless seventh, but the bullpen blues were reared again in the eighth. Will Smith gave up a leadoff double to Brendan Donovan, then walked Pedro Pagés with some borderline calls. Chris Stratton relieved Smith, but gave up a two-run double to Victor Scott II to give the Cardinals a 6-5 lead.
Angel Zerpa continued his struggles in the ninth, giving up the second two-run home run of the night for Contreras. Zerpa then loaded the bases before exiting and allowing James McArthur to wriggle out of the jam. The Royals put the game-tying run on in the ninth, but Vinnie Pasquantino hit into a double play to end the game.
The Royals fall to 64-53 and can tie the series tomorrow evening at 6:10 CT with Michael Wacha scheduled to face Andre Pallante.
