MJ Melendez concluded a 12-pitch at-bat with a grand slam, securing a victory for the Kansas City Royals over the Los Angeles Dodgers with a score of 7-2 on Saturday night. Seth Lugo became the first 10-game winner in the American League, delivering a strong performance. Unfortunately, Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s start was cut short after two innings due to triceps tightness.
In a remarkable display of patience and skill, Kansas City loaded the bases with three consecutive walks by Blake Treinen. Melendez showed great determination, fouling off six consecutive pitches with a 2-2 count. He managed to work the count full when Treinen threw an inside cutter. Treinen attempted the same pitch again, but this time it was slightly elevated within the strike zone. Melendez seized the opportunity and drove the ball over the right-field wall, hitting his first career grand slam and giving the Royals a 5-2 lead.
Treinen’s outing was challenging, as he threw 39 pitches with 22 strikes in just two-thirds of an inning. This was the most pitches he has thrown in a relief appearance since 2018 when he was with the Oakland Athletics. The grand slam not only secured a victory for Kansas City but also provided a much-needed win after a recent slump of five losses in six games. On the other hand, Seth Lugo’s exceptional performance on the mound contributed to the Royals’ success.
Lugo allowed only two runs and six hits in six innings, showcasing his skills as a top pitcher in the American League. With this win, Lugo joined Philadelphia’s Ranger Suárez as the only pitchers in the majors with 10 wins. Unfortunately, Yamamoto’s start was cut short due to triceps tightness, adding to the challenges faced by the Dodgers in this game. Despite Gavin Lux’s two-run single in the fourth inning, the Dodgers were unable to secure a victory .
