Royals Conquer Nationals in Series Sweep: A 7-4 Masterstroke

The Kansas City Royals etched another victory under their belt, sealing a series sweep with a 7-4 win over the Washington Nationals on a thrilling Thursday. A crucial ninth-inning hit by pinch hitter Adam Frazier was the game-changer, breaking the tie and paving the way for the Royals to relish their third consecutive triumph after a rough patch of seven losses.

Manager’s Confidence in Royals’ Resilience

Royals’ manager, Matt Quatraro, wasn’t taken aback by the team’s performance. He praised the professionalism of his team, emphasizing their ability to bounce back, regardless of the outcome of their games. He hopes they’ll have more reasons to celebrate soon.

Key player Salvador Perez’s second hit of the match was instrumental in driving Frazier home, causing Nationals’ closing pitcher, Kyle Finnegan, to exit the game. Frazier’s only focus was to get the ball to the outfield, and hearing the crowd’s cheer was all the confirmation he needed of his success.

Renfroe’s Home Run and Bubic’s Victory

Hunter Renfroe set the tone for the Royals with a 424-feet home run, his 14th of the season, clocking a speed of 108.4 mph. This win has maintained the Royals’ standing with the Tigers for the AL wild-card spot. Both teams are set for three-game series against different opponents.

Kris Bubic, with a scoreless eighth inning, was the proud winner of the game. Lucas Erceg, Royals’ closer, notched up his 14th season save, making it his third consecutive one in the series.

Royals’ Pitching Powerhouses

Erceg, along with Angel Zerpa, played a crucial role in the Royals’ victory, pitching scoreless innings in all three wins. The Royals’ pitchers held the Nationals at bay for 26 out of the 28 innings. Starter Michael Wacha held his ground for five innings, letting in four runs and five hits.

Nationals’ Performance

Patrick Corbin, the Nationals’ left-handed pitcher, made his final appearance for the team. The Royals took the lead after a series of five consecutive singles in the third inning. Some notable performances came from Tommy Pham, Bobby Witt Jr., and Yuli Gurriel, who all had RBI singles.

Luis Garcia Jr., Nationals’ second baseman, tied the game at 4 with his 17th season home run. The Nationals broke the second-longest scoring dry spell in their franchise history with the first run since Sept. 21, courtesy of Dylan Crews.

Corbin exited to a standing ovation, signifying the end of his journey with the Nationals. Despite his struggles over the past four seasons, his contribution to the team was acknowledged by the crowd.

What’s Next for Royals and Nationals?

The Royals look forward to their upcoming clash against the Braves, with RHP Brady Singer (9-12, 3.73 ERA) and Braves’ LHP Max Fried (10-10, 3.42) taking the mound. The Nationals, on the other hand, will square off against the Phillies with RHP Trevor Williams (5-1, 2.19) and Phillies’ LHP Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.15) leading their respective teams.