By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals snapped a four game losing streak backed by timely hitting from Maikel Garcia and another shutout gem by Stephen Kolek in a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium.
It was also a good showing at the plate and on defense for Bobby Witt Jr on his 26th birthday, making an outstanding diving catch, scoring the first run of the game, and also stealing his 25th and 26th bases of the season. Witt Jr. singled with one out in the bottom of the first inning and stole second as Jac Caglianone struck out, before scoring on an RBI single from Garcia to give the Royals the lead.
In the second inning, Witt Jr snagged the first out of the inning diving to rob Joey Loperfido of a hit. Witt Jr. wasn't alone in the game making possible game saving plays, later in the seventh inning, Kolek snagged a ball up the middle to start what turned into a 1-4-3 double play to end the inning, still holding a 4-0 lead.
The Royals took that 4-0 lead in the third inning, adding the three final runs of the game early. After Isaac Collins opened the inning with a walk and Carter Jensen singled, with one out after a Witt Jr pop out, Caglianone singled to score Collins, before Garcia drove in two more runs on a two RBI double, bringing home Jensen and Caglianone, to extend the lead. Kolek, who earned the win improving to 4-1, gave up five hits and struckout four while walking one in 7.1 innings pitched.
Steven Cruz finished out the eighth inning, striking out one, and Daniel Lynch closed out the game pitching a clean ninth for the Royals. At the plate, Witt Jr was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Garcia was 3-for-4 with three RBI's, a double, and a stolen base. Kameron Misner, a former Missouri Tiger getting a start on Mizzou Day at the K, was 2-for-3 with his first Royal's stolen base.
Kansas City heads to Washington tomorrow for a short three game road trip. Mitch Spence (0-0, 13.50 ERA, 3K's) is set to make his first start for the Royals against Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 3.70 ERA, 26K's) for the Nationals. First pitch is at 5:45pm, pregame will air at 5pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.