KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Kyle Isbel and Maikel Garcia hit back-to-back triples to start a sixth-inning rally, and Vinnie Pasquantino provided the go-ahead sacrifice bunt that lifted the Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 victory over the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night. -fair.
Sam Long (2-1) earned the win in relief, escaping Michael Wacha’s attack in the sixth and retiring the team in the seventh. John Schreiber added the eighth before James McArthur added a perfect ninth for his 14th save.
Ben Lively (7-4) got help against one of his former teams from a Cleveland defense that turned two double plays to eliminate early singles. The right-hander ended up allowing 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 while striking out six.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected by third base umpire Tripp Gibson for arguing a call during the fifth inning.
Nick Loftin appeared to avoid a tag on a Hunter Renfroe grounder, but Gibson said Loftin moved off the base path and was called out — even though he was never further away than if he had been rounding third base and heading for home. Quatraro argued for a minute, then turned to return to the dugout when Gibson ejected him.
It sure seemed to set Kansas City on fire.
The Guardians were clinging to a 1-0 lead that Daniel Schneemann provided with his sacrifice fly in the fifth when Isbel led off the sixth with a triple to right field, narrowly edging Schneemann’s throw to third. Garcia followed with his own triple to right, sliding in front of Schneemann’s throw again and tying the game.
Pasquantino followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly to give Kansas City the lead.
Both teams wasted many chances. The Guardians left the bases loaded in the second inning and again in the sixth, and stranded nine runners in all. And the Royals had leadoff singles in three straight innings, but nothing to show for it.
HELP ON THE WAY
O The Guardians agreed to a deal Thursday with LHP Matthew Boyd, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Boyd, 33, who had reconstructive elbow surgery last year, still needs to undergo a physical exam. He went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA in 15 starts for Detroit last season.
ROSTER MOVEMENTS
The Guardians placed OF Will Brennan (rib inflammation) on the injured list, retroactive to Tuesday. They recalled INF José Tena and RHP Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Columbus. RHP Xzavion Curry was drafted by the same club on Wednesday night.
NEXT
Cleveland RHP Triston McKenzie (3-4, 4.66 ERA) faces Kansas City RHP Alec Marsh (5-5, 4.40) on Friday night.
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