By MATT PIKE
Kyle Stowers hit a home run and had an RBI single helping the Miami Marlins rally to beat the Kansas City Royals 9-6 at Kauffman Stadium.
Otto Lopez tripled to score Heriberto Hernández and Stowers drove in Lopez with his RBI single in the top of the first inning as the Marlins built a 2-0 lead. Kansas City though took the lead in the bottom half plating five in the bottom half of the inning. Carter Jensen hit a leadoff homer in the first, setting a franchise record for leadoff home runs, before the Royals batted around to take a 5-2 lead, Jac Caglianone driving in Bobby Witt Jr with an RBI double to tie the game, Salvador Perez connecting with his 18th home run bringing in Caglianone, before Michael Massey added an RBI double bringing Nick Loftin across home plate.
the Marlins began their comeback on Stowers’ solo homer in the third inning, his 18th of the season. Kansas City got the run back in the fourth inning when Jensen capped the Royals scoring adding a solo shot, his 21st of the season, and second of the game. In the fifth, Miami cut the Kansas City lead to two as Hernández doubled and scored Jared Serna, before doubling in the sixth to cap a three run frame.
A pinch hit RBI single by Griffin Conine cut the Royals lead to one, driving in Javier Sanoja, before Jared Serna hit a sacrifice fly bringing home Jakob Marsee to tie the game. Hernández's RBI double drove in Conine to push Miami ahead 7-6. In the ninth inning the Marlins added their final two runs on back-to-back home runs from Sanoja and Marsee. Jose Cuas took his first loss of the season, moving to 0-1, allowed three of four batters faced to reach base pitching 0.1 innings and giving up two hits with one walk, allowing three runs, two earned.
At the plate, Massey was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jensen was also 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs and a walk. Perez was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk.
Kansas City and Miami wrap up their series tomorrow. Michael Wacha (8-8, 3.32 ERA, 136Ks) takes the mound for the Royals against Sandy Alcantara (13-8, 3.46 ERA, 140Ks) for the Marlins. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame is at 6pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.