KANSAS CITY – Behind a resurgent performance from Kyle Harrison and a hot start at the plate, the Milwaukee Brewers fended off a late rally by the Kansas City Royals to secure an 8-5 victory on Sunday.
Harrison Finds the Win Column
Left-hander Kyle Harrison (1-0) earned his first victory in nearly a year, delivering 5 1/3 solid innings. Harrison struck out six and surrendered only three hits, marking his first win since May 30, 2025. His composure on the mound allowed the Brewers to maintain control through the middle innings despite a persistent Royals offense.
Early Fireworks
The Brewers wasted no time establishing a lead in the opening frame:
- Christian Yelich ignited the scoring with an RBI triple.
- Gary Sánchez followed up with a towering two-out, two-run home run to left, his third of the season, stretching the lead to 3-0.
The Royals clawed back in the third inning when Maikel Garcia launched a two-run homer. Kansas City nearly tied the game later that inning, but Brewers outfielder Luis Matos threw out Bobby Witt Jr. at home plate to preserve a narrow 3-2 lead.
Brewers Extend the Gap
Milwaukee found crucial insurance runs as the game progressed:
- Blake Perkins lined an RBI double in the fourth.
- William Contreras came through in the seventh with a two-run single to left, finishing the day with a double and two RBIs.
- Jake Bauers provided a late spark with a pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth before coming around to score.
Royals’ Late Push Falls Short
The Royals refused to go quietly. In the seventh, Vinnie Pasquantino—who finished the day with two hits alongside Garcia—laced a two-run single to bring Kansas City within one. However, the Milwaukee bullpen slammed the door. Trevor Megill handled the final frame to earn his third save of the season.
“It’s been a long road back to the win column,” Harrison said following the game. “Having the offense put up runs early takes a lot of weight off your shoulders.”
Kris Bubic (1-1) was tagged with the loss for Kansas City, despite a notable eight-strikeout performance over four runs allowed. The Brewers look to carry this momentum into their next series, while the Royals aim to bounce back after a competitive home stand.
