KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a dominant offensive performance Monday night, driving in three runs and scoring four times to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 9-5 victory over the Athletics.
Witt put his full skill set on display, headlining his night with a 390-foot two-run shot to left-center field in the fourth inning for his 15th home run of the season, extending Kansas City’s lead to 5-1. He later added an RBI double in the eighth to cap off his big night.
The Athletics struck first when Jeff McNeil launched a solo home run on the very first pitch of the ballgame. However, the Royals answered back quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Maikel Garcia tied the game with an RBI single, and Salvador Perez followed with a two-run single to put Kansas City ahead 3-1.
Jac Caglianone provided additional cushion for the Royals, delivering RBI singles in both the sixth and eighth innings. Kyle Isbel also drove in a run with a third-inning single to keep the offense churning.
Royals starter Michael Wacha (6-8) picked up the win, working five innings while allowing four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. The Kansas City bullpen faced a late surge after reliever Lucas Erceg loaded the bases in the ninth without recording an out. Steven Cruz came in to douse the fire, closing out the game to secure his fourth save of the season.
The A’s made things interesting in the fifth inning with back-to-back power displays. Tommy White crushed a 401-foot solo home run to left-center, and Brian Serven followed shortly after with a two-run homer, trimming the Royals’ lead to 6-4 before Kansas City’s bullpen shut the door.
A’s starter Mason Barnett (1-3) struggled with his command, lasting just 2 2/3 innings. Barnett surrendered six earned runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out two.
UP NEXT
The series continues Tuesday night in Kansas City. The Athletics will send right-hander Jack Perkins (2-9, 7.27 ERA) to the mound against Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch IV (4-4, 2.88 ERA).
