Bad start dooms Royals in 7-5 loss

That’s a stinker.

For the first time in a long time, the Royals got to play an inferior opponent. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter as the Royals lost to the Athletics 7-5.

The tone was set from the start as Alec Marsh was tagged for two runs in the bottom of the first. This, of course, came after his 7-shutout innings against the New York Yankees.

Kansas City, however, didn’t waste time in tying things up. In the top of the second, Nick Loftin crushed his first big league home run to center field to knot the score up at 2-2.

The problem was that Marsh never found rhythm. In the bottom of the third, Oakland tacked on two more runs and nearly chased the right-hander from the game. A few innings later, Zack Gelof put the final nail in the coffin on Marsh’s night with a three-run blast to left field.

Despite the poor outing, the Royals continued to scratch and claw. They added one in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the eighth to make things interesting.

In the top of the ninth, the Royals lineup had the tall task of beating Mason Miller. A task they couldn’t best.

Kansas City, 41-33, will try and even up the series tomorrow night. Cole Ragans will square off with Luis Medina. First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. CT.