By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals are on a hot streak entering the final month of the regular season, and on Saturday, Josh Rojas had his second career game with four RBIs to help Kansas City beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3 at Progressive Field.
The win marked the 12th in the last 13 games for the Royals. Anthony Gose earned his first win of the season, moving to 1-0 against his former club, throwing 1.2 scoreless, hitless innings as five Royals relievers combined to allow one run and two hits in 5.2 innings, following Daniel Lynch giving up three hits and two runs to start the game.
Angel Martínez had two hits for Cleveland, including a two-run home run, which started the scoring in the second inning for the Guardians, driving in Jo Adell. In the ninth inning Martínez scored José Ramírez for the only runs of the game for Cleveland. Martínez was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning, following Martínez's home run, Isaac Collins tied the game with a two RBI double, scoring Nick Loftin and Tyler Tolbert.
After back-to-back singles to start the sixth inning for the Royals by Bobby Witt Jr and Jac Caglianone, Salvador Perez pushed Kansas City ahead with an RBI double scoring Witt. Loftin singled to load the bases and after Rojas came into the game as a pinch hitter, he lined a two-run single to left to extend Kansas City’s lead to 6-2, driving in Loftin and John Rave, after Rave had reached first base on a fielders choice and brought home Caglianone.
In the eighth inning, Rojas added a two-run home run, scoring Rave for his first four RBI game since 2022 when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks. in the eighth. Rojas’ other game with four RBI was with Arizona in 2022. After entering as a pinch hitter, Rojas was 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. Perez was 2-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Caglianone and Loftin were also both 2-for-5 on the afternoon, Loftin recording a double and scoring two runs and Caglianone scoring a run.
Kansas City and Cleveland wrap up their series tomorrow before an off day on Monday for the Royals. Seth Lugo (6-7, 4.61 ERA, 116Ks) takes the mound for Kansas City for the series finale against Parker Messick (10-8, 2.50 ERA, 156Ks) for the Guardians. First pitch is at 12:40pm, pregame will air at non on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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