Bobby Witt Jr.’s summer continues.
The Kansas City Royals star began Monday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a triple, a double and a home run to move closer to his fourth single-hit hit of his first career cycle.
He fell just short of the milestone after being hit on the first pitch of his fourth at-bat, causing tempers to flare on both benches. But that didn’t spoil Witt’s big night, as he led the Royals to a 10-4 victory over the Diamondbacks.
Witt records fourth straight 3-hit game
Witt, who has been on a tear since returning from the All-Star break, started the game with a triple from the right corner. The triple was his 10th of the season, behind only fellow All-Star Jarren Duran (11) of the Boston Red Sox.
In his next at-bat, Witt led off the third inning with a double and scored on a Vinnie Pasquantino single to cut Arizona’s lead to 3-2. Then, in the fourth, he slammed the door on the Diamondbacks.
With runners on the corners and Kansas City leading 5-3, Witt launched a Miguel Castro fastball over the left-center field wall to extend the Royals’ lead to 8-3, leaving them a single cycle out of first. Royals since George Brett in 1990.
The Kansas City home crowd was collectively on its feet in anticipation when Witt took over the batter’s box in the sixth. It was met with immediate disappointment.
BPH spoils chance in cycle
Humberto Castellanos threw a first-pitch sinker high and inside that hit Witt in the left elbow.
It didn’t seem intentional. Castellanos immediately crouched on the mound in response to Witt’s hit. But it angered fans and the Royals dugout. Boos rained down in the stands at Kauffman Stadium, and Royals catcher Salvador Pérez expressed his displeasure on the steps of the Kansas City dugout.
Witt calmly removed his elbow pad and took first base. He made the Diamondbacks pay again by scoring to extend Kansas City’s lead to 10-3.
Royals reliever John Schrieber retaliated in the next inning, striking out Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno.
The Royals retaliated for the Diamondbacks hitting Bobby Witt Jr. and the umpires warned both dugouts
Diamondbacks coach Torey Lovullo got HEATD and was ejected, Salvador Perez also had some strong words in the exchange pic.twitter.com/2m1lr9djfn
-Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 23, 2024
This was almost certainly intentional and alarmed Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. Referee Jordan Baker alerted both dugouts and ultimately ejected Lovullo after he continued to protest.
Lovullo: Intention matters
Lovullo explained after the game that he was upset because the Royals responded to an unintentional pitch hit by intentionally throwing at Moreno.
Diamondbacks coach Torey Lovullo explains what led to his ejection, including on-field comments for #Royal members catcher Salvador Perez.
The ejection came after the Diamondbacks and Royals hit batters with pitches in consecutive innings, one of which featured Bobby Witt Jr. pic.twitter.com/dzQW8VWUMn
– Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) July 23, 2024
“If you think in good conscience that I would ask our team to achieve the future of Major League Baseball – one of the best players in Major League Baseball – you are crazy,” Lovullo said. “You lost control of this situation and got it wrong. That’s exactly what I told Jordan Baker, and I wanted [Pérez] hear this. And I wanted him to take that back to the dugout to make sure he understood that this is how I felt about the situation, and this is how I feel about Bobby Witt Jr.
“He’s an unbelievable player, and I would never support hitting another player. … If they felt like there was intent, they should have hit Castellanos right away. I would have been OK with that. It certainly seemed like there was intent on their part, and I felt like their pitcher should have been ejected on the spot as well.
After the drama was over, Witt had one more chance to come full circle. But he flew out in his final at-bat in the eighth inning.
Witt’s hot start to the second half
Although he didn’t make the cycle, Witt posted another sensational stat line. He finished the night 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. It was his fourth consecutive three-hit game since baseball’s return from the All-Star Break.
He was 12-for-15 in those four games, with two home runs, seven runs scored and six RBI. The Royals won all four games to improve to 56-45 and remain in the AL Central and the wild card hunt.
A third-year pro, Witt has done it all since coming off his first All-Star Game in his third MLB season and a Home Run Derby showing that saw him advance to the final round against defending champion Teoscar Hernández.
He may have missed a cycle on Monday. But there is plenty to celebrate for Witt and there will be plenty more opportunities for the 24-year-old to secure his first career cycle.
