Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, then won it in the ninth with a one-out RBI single as the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Rookie Jac Caglianone homered for the Royals, a 421-foot drive leading off the second inning that was his first extra-base hit in 14 games at Kauffman Stadium. He had been 5 for 46 at home before Tuesday.
Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz tied it in the fourth with a 458-foot shot over the fountains in right field on the day he was announced as a participant in next-week’s Home Run Derby.
Nick Gonzales put the Pirates ahead with a homer in the top of the seventh before Loftin’s drive made it 3-2. But in the end, a win was not to be for Pittsburgh.
The Pirates’ Mitch Keller and the Royals’ Seth Lugo, both rumored to be trade candidates before the July 31 deadline, were nearly identical through six innings. Each allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts.
The teams complete their three-game series Wednesday night with Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter (6-4, 3.69 ERA) facing Kris Bubic (7-6, 2.36).
Comments