WASHINGTON D.C. — A relentless early power display and a bounce-back pitching performance propelled the Kansas City Royals to a 6-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, helping the team avoid a three-game series sweep.
The Royals set the tone immediately, launching four solo home runs in the first three innings alone to snap out of a recent funk and claim just their second win in the last eight games.
Carter Jensen ignited the onslaught by blasting a leadoff home run to right field in the top of the first inning off Nationals starter Zack Littell (6-6). It was the first of a spectacular four-hit day for Jensen. John Rave kept the momentum rolling with a solo shot in the second, and the power display peaked in the third when Lane Thomas and Michael Massey connected for back-to-back home runs, stretching the lead to 4-0.
That early cushion was more than enough for Royals starter Luinder Avila (2-3), who turned in a brilliant redemption performance. Coming off a brutal outing where he surrendered eight runs in less than an inning against Houston, Avila carried a shutout into the sixth. He was locked in all afternoon, ultimately allowing just one run and three hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out five.
The Royals manufactured two insurance runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Rave led off the frame with a triple and dashed home on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Isaac Collins. MLB superstar Bobby Witt Jr. capped the inning’s scoring with an RBI single.
Avila was pulled with two outs in the sixth, handing the ball to reliever Matt Strahm. Washington showed signs of life when CJ Abrams greeted Strahm with an RBI double and later scored on a Dylan Crews single to cut the deficit to 6-2, but the Nationals’ rally stalled there.
Littell took the loss for Washington, tagged for four runs on seven hits over five innings. After going seven consecutive starts without a defeat, the Nationals right-hander has now dropped back-to-back decisions.
UP NEXT
The Royals return to Kansas City on Thursday night to open a home series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Left-hander Noah Cameron (3-4) is scheduled to take the mound for the Royals against the Cardinals’ Matthew Liberatore (3-3).
