The Kansas City Royals continued their torrid pace, sweeping a doubleheader from the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night. The wins pulled the Royals within one game of first place in the AL Central.
In the opener, a solo home run by Bobby Witt Jr. in the eighth inning broke a 3-3 tie and propelled the Royals to a 4-3 victory. Witt’s homer was his 27th of the season, and his 11th since July 19th.
The Royals’ dominance continued in Game 2. Salvador Perez, serving as the designated hitter after catching the first game, delivered a career-high six RBIs, including a grand slam, to lead Kansas City to a 9-4 win. Perez’s performance pushed the Royals’ record to 22-13 since the All-Star break, the best in the American League.
The Guardians, who have led the Central since April 14th, have now dropped to 0-8 in doubleheaders this season.
José Ramírez continued his impressive season for Cleveland, reaching 30 home runs, 30 doubles, and 30 steals for the second time in his career. However, his efforts were not enough to overcome the Royals’ offensive firepower.
The Royals will try to extend their winning streak against the Guardians on Tuesday. Michael Lorenzen will take the mound for Kansas City, facing off against Gavin Williams for Cleveland. The game is scheduled for a 5:40 PM first pitch at Progressive Field, with pregame coverage starting at 5:00 PM on SuperStar Country 102.5 & 1530 AM.
