Seth’s stellar start stems skid, series stopper salvaged 4-1

Pham’s homer powered the offense.

Seth Lugo threw a seven-inning gem and Tommy Pham delivered the decisive blow with his first homer for the Royals as Kansas City defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 tonight.

The first inning featured a couple baserunners but not result. In the top of the second, MJ Melendez turned a single into a double when he got caught in between on a sinking line drive off the bat of Will Brennan. It would not end up mattering as Seth Lugo got the next two outs without incident. In the bottom of the frame, Robbie Grossman worked a five-pitch walk in his first plate appearance as a Royal. He’d reach third base when Freddy Fermin singled with two outs, but Kyle Isbel struck out to end the inning.

In the third, the Guardians continued chasing Melendez around the outfield. With two outs, Andrés Giménez smoked a double over Melendez’s head to the outfield wall. José Ramírez then blooped one down the left field line that Melendez initially misread, breaking in late. The ball dropped in front of him as Giménez cruised home with the game’s first run. Ramírez would then attempt a steal but get gunned-down on a tremendous throw-and-tag from Fermin and Michael Massey to end the inning.

Melendez would soon have an opportunity at redemption. Perez hit a liner down the left field line and took the turn at first base. Steven Kwan got the ball back quickly and Perez was dead to rights at second base, but he executed maybe the niftiest baserunning play of his career with a swim move to dodge the tag and reach base safely. That brought up Melendez with two outs. He worked the count full but flew out to end the inning.

Kansas City would threaten again the next inning. Paul DeJong led off with an infield tapper that Ramírez had no throw on. Grossman would follow with a hard line drive to right to reach for a second time. Massey then hit a middle-middle sinker right back up the box to snap an 0-17 and plate Kansas City’s first run. After Ben Lively retired Fermin and Isbel, Tommy Pham broke the inning open by crushing a fastball down the pipe for a three-run jack. Witt would fly out to end the inning, but the Royals led 4-1.

Staked with four runs for the first time in a week, Lugo clamped down on the Guardians, facing the minimum from the fifth-seventh innings to complete a strong start. The Royals had a chance to add insurance in the seventh when Witt turned a Brennan misplay in center field into a hustle double. He advanced to third with on a wild pitch with two outs and Yuli Gurriel at the plate, pinch-hitting against a lefty for Melendez. Gurriel got ahead 3-0 but ended up striking out to end the inning.

Mercifully, the bullpen kept things relatively drama free after Lugo’s departure. Kris Bubic allowed a bloop single but otherwise struck out the side in the eighth. Lucas Erceg successfully shook off a rough last couple outings, retiring the heart of Cleveland’s lineup in order to lock down the 4-1 victory.

The win improves Kansas City to 76-65. They are 4.5 games back of Cleveland but do hold the tiebreaker, finishing the season series with an 8-5 edge. They will get the day off tomorrow before welcoming the Minnesota Twins to town for a crucial three-game weekend series.

Seth Lugo: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR

Ben Lively: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Tommy Pham: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI

Will Brennan: 2-3