Padres walk off Royals 3-2 after getting to KC bullpen

A lack of execution from the bullpen opened the door for a frustrating series loss

Seth Lugo was dealing after giving up a leadoff single to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the 1st. He would retire the next 18 batters with ease. The Royals, held down by Randy Vasquez for the Padres, would miss out with an opportunity in the top of the second with the bases loaded and one out, as Kyle Isbel would pop out and Jonathan India would strike out on three pitches.

But Salvador Perez would send a laser beam to the left center field seats to plate two runs in the top of the 6th.

Lugo would give up a leadoff double in the bottom of 7th but get pop out from Manny Machado. With two left-handed batters coming up, and Lugo at 90 pitches, manager Matt Quatraro would make the right decision to bring in left hander Angel Zerpa, who has been rock solid for the last month. Lugo would finish the day at 6 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched, 2 hits, 1 run and 7 strikeouts. Zerpa would get a groundout from Luis Arraez, before a 4 pitch walk to Gavin Sheets and a five pitch walk to Xander Bogaerts.

At the three-batter minimum, the bases loaded and 2 outs, with the Royals still leading 2-0, Q would go to Lucas Erceg. Pinch hitter Jose Iglesias, who had an RBI single, when pinch hitting on Friday, would do it again, on an 0-2 fastball, driving in a 2-run single to right field. Iglesias was 0 for his last 17 heading into Friday’s contest.

Erceg would stay on for the bottom of the 8th, walking Tatis with one out, before Jackson Merrill, activated off the 7-day IL this afternoon, would drive a deep flyball to right, but Jac Caglianone would bring it back and rob the go-ahead 2-run home run.

The Padres would bring in closer Robert Suarez, who is currently appealing a three-game suspension after drilling Shohei Ohtani on Thursday. Drew Waters would walk with two outs, before Freddy Fermin would hit a double to center field, but Waters would be gunned down at the plate to end the inning.

Daniel Lynch IV would start the bottom of the 9th for the Royals and give up a leadoff single to Arraez, before giving up a one out double to Bogaerts, who apparently never gets out. 7th inning hero, Jose Iglesias would be due up first, with the chance to walk it off, facing the new pitcher, John Schreiber.

Iglesias would do it again, hitting ANOTHER 0-2 pitch to Bobby Witt Jr., but Witt was unable to cut down Arraez at the plate in time. Padres win 3-2, and took 2 of 3 in the series.

The Royals still had a good road trip, going 4-2, and getting back to 38-40 on the year. But it was a disappointing and frustrating end to the trip, because up until the 7th, it felt like they had the win in the bag. Q managed the game correctly, but costly walks and execution from the bullpen did the Royals in.

They will travel back home and get another off day on Monday, before a monumental 6 game homestand against the surging Rays and defending champ Dodgers. The Royals are back in the race and need to capitalize on the momentum they have heading into this homestand. They haven’t won a home game yet this month.

The ending was disappointing, but this was a good week for the squad. They need another 4-2 week this upcoming one.