By MATT PIKE
A third consecutive save opportunity for Kansas City Royals closer Lucas Erceg ended in disaster, as Erceg blew yet another save, and the Royals lost the second game of a three game series to the Texas Rangers 7-6 at Globe Life Field.
After trailing 3-0, behind a solo home run from Josh Jung in the first inning and a ground out RBI by Danny Jansen scoring Jake Burger, followed by an RBI single from Nicky Lopez driving in Ezequiel Duran in the fourth inning, the Royals took the lead in seventh inning behind a four run inning. Isaac Collins doubled to lead off the inning and scored the first run of the frame on a single by Carter Jensen.
With runners on first and second base, Nick Loftin singling in the at bat prior to Jensen's, Bobby Witt Jr singled off Rangers reliver and former Royal Jakob Junis to cut the lead to one run, scoring Loftin. The line kept moving as Maikel Garcia followed the single with one of his own, bringing home Jensen to tie the game, before Vinnie Pasquantino doubled to drive in Witt Jr to take the lead. Salvador Perez and Jac Caglianone would strike out though, ending the inning with Kansas City leading 4-3.
Garcia was replaced by Tyler Tolbert in the inning. In the midst of the rally, Garcia pulled up while running to third base and, once he got to the bag, crumpled to the ground in clear pain. Head athletic trainer Kyle Turner and manager Matt Quatraro immediately went to third to check on Garcia, who exited with a right hamstring strain. The injury was still being evaluated following the loss, if it does turn into an injured list stint, Loftin could play third base. Kansas City also has several veteran infielders playing for Triple-A Omaha right now, such as Kevin Newman, Josh Rojas and Abraham Toro.
Kansas City added two more runs in the eighth inning with two outs. After Collins walked to open the inning and Lane Thomas and Loftin both flew out, Jensen hit a two run home run to extend the Royals lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Texas did add one run, Jansen doubling to score Burger, but with a runner at third base Jensen made an outstanding diving defensive play on a popped up bunt by Michael Helman to end the inning, leading 6-4.
Erceg replaced John Schreiber in the ninth inning with the two run lead, and to the first batter gave up a solo home run to Joc Pederson to cut the lead to one. After the home run, four straight hits led to the walk off as Jung, Brandon Nimmo, and Burger singled, Burger's hit driving in Jung and moving Nimmo to third, where Duran's single scored Nimmo for the winning run.
For Erceg, the loss moved him to 3-3 on the season, marking his fifth blown save overall, not recording an out and giving up three runs on five hits. At the plate, Jensen was 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Pasquantino was 2-for-3 with two walks and a double, driving in one. Collins was also 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
Kansas City and Texas wrap up their series tomorrow. Michael Wacha (4-2, 2.69 ERA, 60 K's) is set to start for the Royals against Jack Leiter (2-4, 4.75 ERA, 64 K's). First pitch is at 1:35pm, pregame will begin at 1 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.