Tampa, FL – Bobby Witt Jr. continued his torrid streak, belting a home run and driving in three runs as the Kansas City Royals completed a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays with an 8-2 victory on Thursday. The win marks the Royals’ ninth in their last ten games, showcasing their strong recent form.
Witt Jr.’s fifth-inning, two-out, two-run shot down the right-field line extended his hitting streak to an impressive 22 games. This ties him with Brian McRae’s 1991 stretch for the sixth-longest hitting streak in Royals franchise history.
Vinnie Pasquantino also contributed significantly to the offensive firepower, tallying a single, a double, and two RBIs for the Royals. Mikael Garcia sparked the offense in the fourth inning with a line-drive double to center field. He then stole third base and subsequently scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Michael Massey, leveling the score at 1-1.
On the mound, Seth Lugo (3-3) delivered a solid performance, pitching six innings and allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out five Rays batters. The Royals’ bullpen was equally effective, with Daniel Lynch IV, Angel Zerpa, and Chris Stratton each pitching a scoreless inning of relief to secure the victory.
Tampa Bay’s starter, Shane Baz (3-1), struggled, surrendering seven runs on nine hits and walking three over 5 2/3 innings. His ERA ballooned from 2.45 to 3.86 as a result. Yandy Díaz provided the initial offense for the Rays with a solo home run in the first inning, and Jonathan Aranda added an RBI single in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Royals’ offensive surge.
A notable moment in the game came in the seventh inning when Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who was serving as the designated hitter due to hip soreness, left the game. The veteran catcher had earlier contributed with an RBI double in the fifth. Freddie Fermin stepped in behind the plate and had a productive day, hitting a double and a single while also scoring twice.
Looking ahead, the Royals will travel to Baltimore for a three-game series against the Orioles. Right-hander Michael Wacha (1-3, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to start for Kansas City on Friday, while the Orioles are expected to counter with RHP Dean Kremer (1-3, 7.04 ERA). Pregame coverage will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM, with the first pitch from Oriole Park at Camden Yards slated for 6:05 p.m. CDT.
