By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Kansas City Royals closer Carlos Estévez blew a 2-0 lead in the top of the ninth, but the Royals tied the game up to force extra innings and secured a walk off 4-3 win in 11 innings in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies at Kauffman Stadium.
Kris Bubic was stellar for the Royals in the start, but so was Rockies starter Ryan Feltner as both teams were scoreless through the first six innings. The scoreless tie was broken when Drew Waters, who had singled in the third inning, hit his first home run of the season at the major league level to right center field.
Kansas City extended their lead in the eighth inning after Waters tripled, and was later driven in by Kyle Isbel with a single. Waters finished the game a double shy of the cycle. Waters most notably hit a cycle earlier this season at Triple A Omaha. The Royals though ran into some trouble in the ninth inning, as Estévez came on for the save.
The inning started off fine for Estévez as he quickly retired Sean Bouchard and Kyle Farmer. But then, Estévez issued back-to-back-to-back walks to Ryan McMahon, Hunter Goodman, and Michael Toglia who all came around to score when Jacob Stallings hit a bases clearing double, pushing Colorado ahead 3-2.
With their backs against the wall in the bottom of the ninth, Salvador Perez singled to open the inning for Kansas City, and was replaced by Freddy Fermin as a pinch runner. A double from Maikel Garcia moved Fermin to third base, and with two in scoring position Michael Massey hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Fermin, leaving Garcia at second base. Garcia wound up being picked off attempting to steal third base, and Cavan Biggio flew out to force the game into extra innings.
After neither team scored in the 10th inning, and the Rockies left Zac Veen stranded at second base, the Royals came to bat in the 11th, Mark Canha opening up the inning at second base. Bobby Witt Jr was intentionally walked, and then after Tyler Kinley Jr.'s wild pitch moved Canha to third and Witt Jr to second, Vinnie Pasquantino was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing up Fermin for his first at bat. Fermin cashed in with a single, scoring Canha for the walk off win.
Daniel Lynch IV earned the win in relief, moving to 3-0 on the season, pitching one inning, striking out one and walking one. Bubic in his stellar start pitched seven shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out six. Waters led the way hitting going 3-4 with a home run, triple, single and one RBI.
Kansas City and Colorado go again tomorrow, continuing the homestand for the Royals. Michael Lorenzen gets the start for Kansas City taking on Germán Márquez for the Rockies. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.