The Kansas City Royals concluded their opening week series against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. After an historic win on Opening Day, the Royals were able to clinch a series victory on Saturday with an 11-4 win. Texas was able to avoid the sweep as they took the third game by a score 7-3.
Here is the recap of the two-game split following the opener.
Saturday: Royals 11, Rangers 4
After launching two separate comebacks on Opening Day, the Royals looked to improve to 2-0. Kansas City was without starting third baseman Hunter Dozier who is dealing with a thumb injury. On the mound, it was Mike Minor, who was facing his former team after playing for the Rangers from 2018-2020. During the first few innings, Minor struggled, surrendering a two-run homer to Joey Gallo in the top of the first. Later, in the third inning, he allowed two more runs to cross the plate from a two-run single off the bat of Nate Lowe.
Fortunately for the Royal faithful, after the two-run single from Lowe, Minor settled in. He set down nine of his last 10 hitters, including a double-play ball and three strikeouts over that span. The lefty ended up going six innings, allowing four runs on four hits with two walks. He also struck out six Rangers.
After a solid Opening Day performance, the bullpen finished the game with three scoreless innings. Three pitchers made their season debuts on Saturday, including left-handed pitcher, Jake Brentz, who made his Major League debut, pitching 2/3 thirds of an inning, allowing two runners on base, and hit 100-mph on the radar gun multiple times.
Bringing the 🔥 for strikeout no. 1!#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/rkUka3OxVF
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 3, 2021
On offense, KC started out slow with only two hits and total base runners through four innings. However, the offense woke up in the fifth.
It all started with the scorching hot center fielder, Michael A. Taylor, who led off with his second home run of the year. Followed up by a triple from Kyle Isbel, an RBI-double from Hanser Alberto, and a single from Nicky Lopez, the Royals started the inning with a reverse cycle and cut the deficit to 4-2. Whit Merrifield drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.
The offense exploded in the sixth inning, scoring seven runs. The Royals led off the inning with a walk to Carlos Santana, singly by Salvador Perez, and a walk to Jorge Soler. Once again, Taylor comes up clutch with a two-run double, driving in Santana and Perez. Isbel drove in Soler with an RBI-single in the next at-bat. The Royals gained their first lead of the game, 6-4.
Alexa, play “Like Mike.”#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/lyK89zlfwo
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 3, 2021
Following an Alberto walk and Lopez strikeout, Merrifield came to the plate with bases loaded. He knocked in two runs with a single to left field. Santana, who led off the inning with a walk, capped of the inning a two-run, bases clearing double. At the end of the sixth, the Royals led 10-4.
For the second consecutive game, Merrifield capped it all off with a solo homer into the left-field bullpen. The Royals shut down the Rangers in the ninth and clinched an 11-4 win. For the second consecutive game, KC completes a comeback. Merrifield and Taylor led the offense, combining for four hits (2 HR) and seven RBIs.
Record-setting starts.#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/eaOWOsY8Uw
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 4, 2021
Through two games, the Royals have scored 25 runs on 28 hits. They tied the 1974 team for the second-most runs in club history and tied the 1977 team for the most hit hits collected in the first two games of a season. Additionally, Taylor set a new franchise record for the most RBIs (6) in the first two games of a season.
Sunday: Rangers 7, Royals 3
In the final game of the series, KC had Brady Singer on the mound looking for the sweep. The team was still without Dozier at third. Singer started out well with two scoreless innings. He was the lone Royals starter to not allow a run in the first inning in the series. However, he ran into trouble in the third inning. With two outs in the inning, Lowe hit a three-run home run into the fountains to right center.
The struggles continued into the fourth inning. Singer surrendered three consecutive walks to load the bases and Isiah Kiner-Falefa knocked in two with a single to left. Brentz replaced Singer and he surrendered a sac fly. The Royals trailed 6-0. On the day, Singer only went three and 1/3 innings, allowed six runs, and struck out five Texas hitters.
The Royals needed to complete a comeback in the third-straight game to win. The offense was not scorching like the previous two games. Fortunately, in the sixth inning Perez launched a pitch from Jordan Lyles over the wall in center field for a home run. It was is first of the season. With one swing of the bat, the Ranger lead was cut to 6-2.
It’s always egg-cellent to see Salvy rounding the bases. pic.twitter.com/j4qUA3Itr5
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 4, 2021
In the top of the ninth, Kiner-Falefa put the nail in the coffin with a solo shot, extending the Texas lead back to five runs. In the bottom half, Alberto doubled in the final run of the game, ending the score at 7-3.
Up Next
The Royals currently sit at 2-1 and head to Cleveland for a two-game set against the Indians, beginning Monday. Afterwards, Kansas City will travel to Chicago for a weekend series against the White Sox.
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