KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Vinnie Pasquantino’s bat was the catalyst for the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night, as his double, home run, and five RBIs powered the team to an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals. The win brings the Royals back to the .500 mark for just the second time since mid-June.
Pasquantino wasted no time making an impact, opening the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that plated Maikel Garcia. The Royals first baseman struck again in the third, launching a three-run homer into the right field stands after a walk by Garcia and an infield hit from Bobby Witt Jr. Pasquantino then capped the Royals’ scoring with an RBI double in the seventh. His performance highlighted his team-leading 32 two-out RBIs and his second-in-the-majors 23 go-ahead RBIs.
Jonathan India also contributed to the offensive outburst with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, extending Kansas City’s lead to 7-2.
On the mound, Michael Wacha (7-9) was solid, allowing just two runs on five hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings, marking his sixth consecutive start with fewer than three earned runs. Lucas Erceg closed out the game with a hitless ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Nationals starter Mitchell Parker (7-13) struggled, giving up five runs on just two hits, but walked three over 5 1/3 innings. The loss was Parker’s third straight, a span in which he has surrendered 17 runs in 14 1/3 innings.
Despite the loss, the Nationals had some moments, including a leaping grab at the center field wall by Robert Hassell III to rob Randal Grichuk of a solo home run in the fifth. In the sixth, CJ Abrams scored on a misplayed deep pop fly by Witt, and Abrams and James Wood each had two-out RBIs in the seventh. Wood extended his multi-hit game streak to four.
Looking ahead, the Nationals’ Jake Irvin (8-7, 4.90 ERA) is scheduled to face the Royals’ Seth Lugo (8-6, 3.46 ERA) tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Pregame coverage on Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM KQNK begins at 12:30 PM with a 1:10 PM first pitch.
