Closer Lucas Erceg gave up a home run and four consecutive singles, failing to record an out as the Kansas City Royals fell to their fifth straight defeat, a 7-6 walk-off loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, May 30 in Arlington.
Erceg was handed the game ball in the ninth with the Royals leading 6-4. The Rangers were quick to get to him, as Joc Pederson lined a changeup over the right field fence for a leadoff home run. Singles by Josh Jung and Brandon Nimmo followed. Jake Burger tied the game with a line drive to right field, and that was followed up three pitches later by Ezequiel Duran’s fly ball to right to score the winning run. Erceg suffered his fifth blown save of the season, falling to 3-3 by allowing three runs on five hits.
The Rangers’ ninth inning capped a wild three frames that saw the Royals snap a shutout opportunity and score four runs with one out in the seventh. Carter Jansen got the Royals on the board with a single to left field that scored Isaac Collins. RBI singles by Bobby Witt Jr and Maikel Garcia followed. Vinnie Pasquantino then added an RBI double to give the Royals the lead. KC added two more runs in the eighth with a Jansen home run to left field, his seventh of the season. The Rangers responded with a one-out double from Danny Jansen, but saw their inning close with a bunt pop out caught in foul territory by Carter Jansen.
Peyton Gray recorded his first win of the year for Texas, allowing a single in the ninth but striking out two in his relief appearance. Seth Lugo allowed three runs on six hits in his six-inning start, striking out six. Kumar Rocker didn’t allow a run in his six-inning start for Texas, striking out two and allowing just three hits but also three walks. Josh Jung and Jake Burger both went three-for-five for the Rangers, including a first-inning home run for Jung.
The Royals drop their fifth straight game, falling to 22-36. That’s a half-game ahead of Detroit and Colorado for the worst record in baseball, while falling 11 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central. It’s up to Michael Wacha to prevent the sweep, as he’ll get the start Sunday afternoon in Texas, against the Rangers’ Jack Leiter. Pregame coverage begins at 1 p.m., with first pitch at 1:35 p.m., on KMMO AM 1300.