KANSAS CITY, MO – The Kansas City Royals ignited their July home stand with a powerful display of offense and a dominant pitching performance from rookie Noah Cameron, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-3 on Monday night. Four Royals blasts, including dingers from stars Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, fueled the victory at Kauffman Stadium.
Rookie left-hander Noah Cameron (3-4) delivered a season-high seven strong innings, fanning seven batters while surrendering just three hits, one walk, and two runs, both coming on Tommy Pham’s third-inning two-run shot. After Bryan Reynolds’ leadoff single in the third, Cameron did not allow another hit, showcasing remarkable command and composure.
Bobby Witt Jr. continued his scorching streak at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, extending his overall hitting streak to 11 games. Witt launched his 13th home run of the season, a two-run opposite-field shot off reliever Chase Shugart in the fourth inning, pushing the Royals’ lead to 6-2. He also contributed a sacrifice fly in the sixth. This stellar performance comes on the heels of Witt extending his club-record road hitting streak to 25 games on Sunday.
Captain Salvador Perez added to the home run barrage with his 11th of the season, a solo shot to left field in the fifth inning that gave the Royals a five-run cushion. Earlier in the third, Perez doubled off the top of the wall in left to drive in a run, giving Kansas City a 3-2 lead.
The long ball trend started early for the Royals, with Vinnie Pasquantino hitting his 15th home run of the season, a two-out blast off Andrew Heaney in the first inning to put Kansas City up 1-0. Nick Loftin capped off the scoring with his second homer, a one-out solo shot off Génesis Cabrera in the eighth.
Pirates starter Andrew Heaney (4-8) struggled, tossing 76 pitches and allowing four runs in just three innings. Pham’s homer was the only significant offense for Pittsburgh, snapping their 30-inning scoreless streak and briefly giving them a 2-1 lead.
Royals relievers Steven Cruz pitched a scoreless eighth, and Jonathan Bowlan closed out the game in the ninth, allowing only an RBI single to Alexander Canario.
Notably, the Royals hit more home runs in their first home game of July than they did throughout the entire month of June, signaling a potential shift in their offensive output.
The Royals will look to continue their winning ways as they face the Pirates in the second of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday. Pregame coverage on Superstar Country 102.5 FM KQNK begins at 6:00 p.m., with first pitch slated for 6:40 p.m. Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller (3-10, 3.64 ERA) is scheduled to start against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo (6-5, 2.65 ERA).
