KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Bobby Witt Jr. came up just short for the cycle, Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe also scored, and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-4 on Monday night for their fourth straight victory.
Witt tripled in the first round, doubled in the third and drilled a three-run home run to deep left center in the fourth to get the hard part out of the way.
The crowd stood up shouting “Bobby! Bobby! when Witt reached base in the sixth in anticipation of a single and first cycle by a Kansas City player in 34 years, but Arizona reliever Humberto Castellanos hit Witt with his first pitch, drawing boos.
Witt had another chance in the eighth but was retired on a fly ball to right field. The last Royals player to enter the cycle was Hall of Famer George Brett in Toronto on July 25, 1990.
Witt, who was named American League Player of the Week on Monday, has gone 12-for-15 since playing in his first All-Star Game and finished runner-up in the Home Run Derby, increasing his average to .341. It was Witt’s fourth consecutive three-hit game, matching Johnny Damon in 2000 for the second-best streak in franchise history, behind only Brett’s six games in 1976.
The Royals (56-45), who are in position for a wild-card playoff spot, matched their win total from last season.
Cole Ragans (7-6) survived a shaky third inning to record his second straight victory and his eighth quality start in nine. He allowed six hits, two walks and three runs in six innings.
The Diamondbacks took a 3-1 lead in the third when Kevin Newman and Alek Thomas hit back-to-back doubles and Ketel Marte followed with his 20th home run, a two-run shot to left field.
The Royals responded in the bottom half with Witt’s double, Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI single and Perez’s two-run home run to center for a 4-3 lead.
Witt’s three-run shot off reliever Miguel Castro in the fourth made it 8-3.
Renfroe scored the sixth, Kyle Isbel had three hits and two RBIs, and Pasquantino had three hits for the Royals.
After giving up just one run in six innings in each of his first two major league starts, Arizona’s Yilber Diaz allowed seven runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.
Royals reliever John Schreiber hit Gabriel Moreno with a pitch in the seventh. Both benches were warned, and Arizona coach Torey Lovullo was ejected for arguing with referee Jordan Baker and had to be held back. Royals catcher Perez appeared to exchange words with Lovullo during the scrum near the plate.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Lovullo said LHP Jordan Montgomery (knee) would come off the injured list and start Tuesday. RHP Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) will each throw a bullpen session on Tuesday and are on track for simulated games, Thursday for Kelly and Friday for Rodriguez.
Royals: OF MJ Melendez (ankle) is close to returning, manager Matt Quatraro said. … Melendez is eligible to come off the IL on Friday.
NEXT
Alec Marsh (7-6, 3.55) will start for the Royals against Montgomery (6-5, 6.44).
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