By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals used a two out, five run rally in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Miami Marlins 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon, securing their 13th series win of the season.
The Royals offense struggled at first against Marlins starter Valente Bellozo, making his major league debut after being called up on Wednesday, getting just two hits through five innings against the rookie.
The Marlins took the lead in the second inning, catcher Nick Fortes singling to drive in shortstop Vidal Bruján. From there however, Royals starter Brady Singer would surrender just one more hit.
Singer looked brilliant on the mound despite giving up the run, throwing 7.1 innings and striking out five batters, giving up five hits and walking one. Following a pitch clock violation strikeout on Fortes in the eighth inning, Singer gave way to Angel Zerpa who recorded the final two outs of the inning.
The Royals rally began in the bottom half of the inning with two outs as shortstop Bobby Witt Jr lasered a triple into the right center gap. Two pitches later, designated hitter Vinnie Pasquantino would single to drive in Witt Jr., tying the game at one a piece.
Dairon Blanco would pinch run for Pasquantino, going on to steal second base, and eventually scoring on a Salvador Perez double. Nick Loftin, who to this point was 3-for 38 over his last several at bats, singled to score Perez.
The final runs scored as with the bases loaded, Freddy Fermin singled to score both MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe. Michael Massey, who struckout to open the inning pinch hitting for Garrett Hampson, ended the inning with a groundout.
James McArthur, who had been warming up for a save situation, came on to close out the game with three straight outs.
While Singer didn't earn the win, he was the third straight Royals starter to record a quality start, the Royals rotation holding Miami to just two runs across 19.1 innings for an ERA of 0.93.
Kansas City will now welcome the Cleveland Guardians to town for a four game weekend series. Earlier this month the Royals split a series with the Guardians in Cleveland, with one game being postponed until August 26th.
The Royals will hope strong pitching continues from their starters, sending Michael Wacha to the mound to open that series, against Cleveland's Ben Lively. First pitch on Thursday is at 7:10pm with pregame at 6:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).