Bobby Witt Jr. came close to hitting for the cycle, falling just a single short, in the Kansas City Royals’ 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night. Witt had an impressive game, tripling in the first inning, doubling in the third, and hitting a three-run homer in the fourth. The crowd was eagerly anticipating Witt’s chance to complete the cycle, but he was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning, drawing loud boos from the disappointed fans.
Despite being hit by a pitch, Witt had another opportunity in the eighth inning but was retired on a fly ball to right field. The last Royals player to hit for the cycle was Hall of Famer George Brett in 1990. Witt, who was named American League Player of the Week earlier that day, has been on a hot streak since playing in his first All-Star Game, raising his average to .341. He has had four straight three-hit games, matching a franchise record.
The game was not without its tensions, as Royals reliever John Schreiber hit Gabriel Moreno with a pitch, resulting in both benches being warned. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was ejected for arguing with the umpire, and there was a heated exchange between Royals catcher Salvador Perez and Lovullo. The Royals, who are in position for a wild-card playoff berth, matched their win total from last season. Cole Ragans recorded his second straight win, despite a shaky third inning, and the Diamondbacks took a 3-1 lead before the Royals responded with Witt’s impressive performance.
The Royals quickly turned the game around in the bottom half, as Witt’s double, Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI single, and Perez’s two-run homer to center gave them a 4-3 lead. Witt’s three-run shot off reliever Miguel Castro in the fourth inning further extended their lead to 8-3. Renfroe added to the Royals’ offensive display with a homer in the sixth, while Kyle Isbel contributed three hits and two RBIs, and Pasquantino also had three hits.
Despite Arizona’s Yilber Diaz’s strong performances in his first two major league starts, where he only allowed one run in six innings each, he struggled in the game by giving up seven runs and nine hits in just three-plus innings. The Royals’ hitters took advantage of Diaz’s struggles to secure a comfortable lead and ultimately secure the victory.
The second game of the three-game series between Arizona and Kansas City will take place on Tuesday evening at Kauffman Stadium. Tune in to SuperStar Country 102.5 & 1530 AM for pregame coverage starting at 6:30 p.m., with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The Diamondbacks’ Jordan Montgomery (6-5, 6.44 ERA) will be on the mound, while the Royals’ Alec Marsh (7-6, 4.52 ERA) will be his counterpart.
