Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports Bobby Witt Jr. blasted a go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning, allowing the Kansas City Royals to open a split doubleheader with a 4-3 win over the host Cleveland Guardians on Monday afternoon.
Witt homered for the second time in as many days and has now gone deep 27 times this season.
John Schreiber (4-3) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of perfect relief. Lucas Erceg issued a walk in the ninth but still managed to notch his eighth save of the year.
Hunter Gaddis (4-3) served up Witt’s long ball to take the loss.
It originally looked like MJ Melendez was going to single-handedly lead Kansas City to a victory, as he put the Royals up 3-2 with a three-run homer in the fourth, then made a stunning catch an inning later.
Melendez’s blast was initially ruled a double. Kansas City challenged the call, which was overturned when video review showed that the ball just cleared the right field wall.
Cleveland then had runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth. Jhonkensy Noel ripped a fly ball into the left field corner, where Melendez laid out to make a diving grab that likely saved two runs.
The Guardians did end up drawing even eventually, though, with Josh Naylor singling home a run in the seventh.
Royals starter Cole Ragans struggled with his control in the second, and Cleveland took advantage to grab a 2-0 lead.
Noel drew a leadoff walk before Tyler Freeman was hit by a pitch with one out. Austin Hedges followed with a single to load the bases for Steven Kwan, who walked on four pitches to bring home Noel.
Freeman later scored on a passed ball.
Left calf and hamstring cramps forced Ragans to exit the game after four-plus innings. The left-hander gave up the two runs (one earned) on three hits. He walked four and struck out four.
Nick Sandlin served as an opener for Cleveland, making his first career start in 198 major league appearances. He worked around two walks in a scoreless first before turning things over to Eli Morgan.
Salvador Perez finished with three hits, including two doubles, for Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
