Logan Allen gave up an early first-inning home run that sadly set the tone in the game. Allen only went three innings, giving up four runs.
Guardians reliever Michael Kelly followed up Allen and had similar issues giving up 3 runs, 2 earned in one inning pitched. After Kelly, the Guardian’s bullpen did settle down giving up zero runs the rest of the way.
Steven Kwan had a big night going 2 for 2 with 3 walks in his 5 at-bats scoring one run with two RBIs.
MJ Melendez blasted a home run and contributed three RBIs, while James McArthur, who emerged as a late-season sensation, struck out three consecutive batters to thwart an eighth-inning threat. As a result, the Kansas City Royals managed to secure a 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.
Makail Garcia tallied three hits, and Nick Loftin chipped in with two RBIs for the Royals, who have triumphed in five of their last six games. This win also snapped their five-series losing streak against the Guardians, and they have a chance to complete a sweep of their AL Central rivals on Wednesday.
Alec Marsh (2-8) clinched the win, despite a somewhat shaky performance following opener Steven Cruz. However, it was McArthur’s remarkable display that stole the spotlight. His trio of strikeouts left two runners in scoring position in the eighth inning, setting the stage for Collin Snider to record his first career save in the ninth.
In the early stages of the game, Logan Allen (7-8) from Cleveland struggled, conceding four runs on eight hits and two walks in just three innings.
The Royals secured a 2-0 lead in the first inning, courtesy of MJ Melendez’s 15th home run of the season. They added two more runs in the third inning, showcasing their small-ball prowess through a combination of a double, four singles, and a walk.
Cleveland managed to get on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when Josh Naylor capitalized on an error by right fielder Nelson Velázquez, driving in two runs with a single. However, Kansas City swiftly responded in the bottom half of the inning. Velázquez and Nick Loftin each contributed RBI hits, and Tyler Cropley, in his major league debut, added a sacrifice fly, extending the Royals’ lead to 7-2.
The Guardians mounted a comeback effort in the sixth inning, highlighted by Stevan Kwan’s two-out, two-run triple. Their momentum continued with Andrés Giménez’s run-scoring triple in the seventh and Bo Naylor’s leadoff home run in the eighth, bringing Cleveland within a single run.
It was at this critical juncture that McArthur inherited a challenging situation with two runners on base and no outs, but he proceeded to strike out the next three batters, effectively ending the inning and preserving the Royals’ narrow lead.
Shane Bieber, who has been out with elbow inflammation, had no problems during his bullpen session Tuesday and will start Friday night’s game against Baltimore. He has not started a game since July 9.
Up Next
Lucas Giolito (8-13, 4.59 ERA) tries to snap a four-game losing streak in the series finale Wednesday.
Wednesday 9/20 2:10 PM EST – Series Finale vs. Royals
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