Jul 3, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) slides home and scores a run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Kauffman Stadium. Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Wacha threw six strong innings to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
After Isaac Paredes hit a two-out solo home run, his 14th, to give the Rays a first-inning lead, Wacha allowed just one more hit and went six innings, surrendering three hits and striking out eight to earn his first win since May 20.
It was the 43rd time a Kansas City pitcher had made a good start, third most in the majors.
Wacha (5-6) has allowed two or fewer runs in seven consecutive starts, posting a 2.21 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.
The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the third, highlighted by Bobby Witt Jr.’s RBI double to the left corner. Witt scored on Vinnie Pasquantino’s single to right.
Pasquantino has an RBI in eight of nine games during the current home series and his 43 homefield RBIs lead the majors. Witt and Pasquantino each have a pair of hits.
Kansas City forced 87 pitches in four innings from long-counting Ryan Pepiot. He walked three batters without striking out, and allowed two runs on four hits. Pepiot (4-5) is 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts.
Reliever Shawn Armstrong hit two hits in the seventh inning, then Salvador Perez connected for a two-run single to give the Royals a 4-1 lead.
Chris Stratton retired just one of four batters in the eighth inning, allowing Randy Arozarena and Amed Rosario to hit back-to-back singles to cut Kansas City’s lead to 4-2.
With the help of Kyle Isbel’s leaping catch off the center field wall in the ninth inning, James McArthur made the final five outs for his 15th save and his eighth consecutive scoreless outing.
The Royals have won 6 of 9 games in the current home series that ends on Thursday night.
Paredes has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games with seven extra-base hits and eight RBIs.
Rosario had two of the five hits for the Rays.
Tampa Bay has won nine of 13 games and will be looking for its fifth straight series win in Thursday’s game.
–Field Level Media
