CLEVELAND – Behind a dominant performance from Michael Wacha and timely power from Carter Jensen and Jonathan India, the Kansas City Royals secured a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night. While the evening belonged to the Royals on the scoreboard, it was a historic night for Cleveland as All-Star José Ramírez became the franchise’s all-time leader in games played.
Wacha Dominates in Return
After missing his previous start due to illness, Michael Wacha (1-0) looked sharp in his second outing of the year. The veteran right-hander surrendered only one run on three hits across seven innings. Despite battling some command issues—yielding three walks—Wacha navigated the Guardians’ lineup efficiently, throwing 102 pitches to keep Kansas City in control.
Wacha’s only blemish came in the third inning when Steven Kwan hooked a solo home run down the right-field line to give Cleveland an early 1-0 lead.
Royals Strike Back
The Royals clawed back in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a Cleveland miscue. After Vinnie Pasquantino reached base, Carter Jensen appeared to strike out to end the inning; however, a wild pitch by Guardians starter Tanner Bibee allowed Jensen to reach first. Jonathan India capitalized immediately, lining an RBI single to right to tie the game at 1-1.
Kansas City took the lead for good in the sixth:
- The Go-Ahead: Carter Jensen launched a solo home run off Peyton Pallette (0-1), a towering blast over the right-field wall.
- The Insurance: In the eighth, Jonathan India extended the lead to 4-1 with a clutch two-run home run.
A Historic Milestone for Ramírez
Despite the loss, the Cleveland faithful witnessed history. José Ramírez appeared in his 1,620th career game, surpassing Terry Turner’s franchise record which had stood for nearly 108 years. Ramírez finished the night 0-for-2 but showcased his trademark discipline by drawing two walks.
Closing it Out
The Guardians attempted a late rally in the eighth when Brayan Rocchio homered to left-center, cutting the deficit to two. However, the Royals’ bullpen held firm. Lucas Erceg worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season.
| Team | R | H | E |
| Kansas City | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Cleveland | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Up Next:
The series continues Tuesday with a pitching matchup featuring Royals lefty Noah Cameron (1-0, 1.80 ERA) against Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (1-1, 2.25 ERA). Due to forecasted frigid evening temperatures, the game has been moved up to an afternoon start. Pregame coverage on Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM will begin at 11:30 a.m. with first pitch from Cleveland at 12:10 p.m.
