Disaster four-run 8th inning leads to 6-3 loss

Erceg and Vinnie were injured on the same fateful play

For a second, you could squint and see another late-inning rally. A clutch Kyle Isbel double had Kansas City six outs away from another comeback win. Then a disastrous ground ball ended with Lucas Erceg and Vinnie Pasquantino injured and the Royals’ lead gone. The air had been let out of the balloon at that point, and the Astros capitalized, winning 6-3.

The Royals’ offense struggled throughout the night against right-hander Hunter Brown. Michael Massey led off the game with a single and Maikel Garcia managed a two-out single in the 2nd before Brown retired 14 straight Royals. Garcia followed his single with a stolen base, the only runner that Brown would face in scoring position.

Fortunately, Brady Singer looked equally sharp and put together a needed bounce-back start. Aside from some trouble with Yordan Alvarez, Singer looked clean through his first four innings before running into some more tough luck in the 5th.

After his last start was marred by a misplayed flyball and bad hop that led to three runs, he fell victim to an infield single and a 56.8 MPH bloop double, leading to a two-RBI double from Jason Heyward. The double put Houston up 2-0.

It wasn’t until the seventh that Kansas City put together a true threat. Salvador Perez started the rally by reaching on an error by shortstop Jeremy Pena. Paul DeJong grounded into a forceout and moved to second on an MJ Melendez walk, ending Brown’s night. He made it through 6.2 innings, giving up just two hits and striking out four batters.

Having DeJong on base rather than Salvy proved important on a 3-2 pitch to Garcia. DeJong was running on the pitch and wound up at third base right around the time Garcia’s groundball was reaching third baseman Shea Whitcomb.

His presence around the ball was just enough to cause Whitcomb to bobble the ball, allowing Garcia to reach and extend the inning. Kyle Isbel made Houston pay. After nearly hitting a grand slam down the right-field line, Isbel poked a 1-2 slider down the right-field line for a double, scoring all three runners, and giving the Royals a 3-2 lead.

It was, what you might say, a lucky double.

Quatraro sent Singer back out for the 7th, who immediately walked Pena, ending his night. Fellow 2018 draftee Kris Bubic relieved him, striking out the next two batters and getting out of the inning with the lead. Singer’s night ended with 6+ innings of work and six strikeouts, giving up just two runs.

Erceg came in for the 8th with the top of the Astros order coming to the plate. Jose Altuve led off with a walk and moved to 2nd on a one-out single from pinch hitter Shay Whitcomb before disaster struck.

Yainer Diaz grounded the ball back up the middle, for what could have been a double play. Erceg attempted to catch the ball, but deflected it in front of himself, and then threw it into right field. On the throw, Diaz collided with Vinnie Pasquantino, who instantly went to the ground in pain and was removed from the game, replaced by Salvy.

John Schreiber replaced Erceg and intentionally loaded the bases. The move paid off when Pena grounded into a force out at home for the 2nd out. It didn’t pay off when Schreiber proceeded to walk in the go-ahead run, giving the Astros a 4-3 lead. Mauricio Dubón followed with a two-RBI single that was the dagger, putting Houston up 6-3.

The Royals went down easy in the 9th, falling to 75-60. The Astros improved to 72-62 with the win.

Up Next: Royals at Astros, Friday, August 30, 7:10 PM CDT. RHP Seth Lugo (14-8, 3.19 ERA) v. LHP Framber Valdez (13-6, 3.27 ERA)