By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals offense already looked different as top prospect Jac Caglianone made his major league debut in St. Louis on Tuesday afternoon, and the Royals battled back and forth with the Cardinals in an offensive duel, winning 10-7
It was an unfortunate debut for Caglianone at the plate, going 0-for-5, batting sixth in the lineup and playing designated hitter. General Manager JJ Picollo said earlier in the day that Caglianone would play DH to become acclimated to the big league level.
The Royals struck first in the game, Jonathan India singling to leadoff the game and then Bobby Witt Jr hitting his seventh home run of the season into the center field stands to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead. Caglianone was left in the on deck circle though in the opening inning as Salvador Perez grounded out to end the inning, three straight outs following the home run.
After starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen cruised through the bottom of the first inning, giving up just a double to Brendan Donovan, a crowd of Royals fans on hand at Busch Stadium, as well as his family, prepared for Caglianone's first at bat, and almost got a look at his pure power right away as the rookie got a hold of a breaking ball and hit it hard into the right center field gap, but was robbed of his first major league hit by center fielder Victor Scott II.
St. Louis tied up the game in the bottom half of the inning, Nolan Gorman hitting his second home run of the season, which was nearly robbed by center fielder Kyle Isbel. Then, in the bottom of the third inning, the Cardinals got to Lorenzen, putting up a five spot on the scoreboard to take what seemed like an insurmountable lead, with how the Royals offense has been performing.
A ground rule double from Willson Contreras drove in Masyn Winn, the 500th RBI of Contreras's career, to give the Redbirds the lead. With two outs, a single from Nolan Arenado scored Donovan and Contreras, both coming home on a throwing error by Maikel Garcia, to extend the lead even more, before Alec Burleson hit a two run home run to center field off Lorenzen, chasing him from the game for Daniel Lynch and giving St. Louis a 7-2 lead.
Trailing by five runs as of late seemed like a death sentence for Kansas City, but not this new look offense, which put up six runs in the fifth inning to take the lead back, starting with a solo home run by Nick Loftin, his first of the season to left field. Singles from Drew Waters, Isbel, and India followed the home run, loading the bases for Witt Jr against Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante.
Witt Jr battled to a full count with Pallante, fouling off pitches, before hitting a fourth straight single into left field, bringing home Waters and Isbel, cutting the St Louis lead to two, and sending Pallante to the dugout for Steven Matz to come to the mound. Matz did get the second out, getting Garcia to flyout to right field, but Vinnie Pasquantino doubled, his seventh of the season, driving in India and Witt Jr to tie the game. The Royals took the lead in the next at bat, Perez singling into left field, allowing Pasquantino to come home.
The Cardinals were unable to answer in the bottom half, and in the top of the sixth Matz opened with back to back strikeouts of Loftin and Waters, but then gave up a single to Isbel, and was replaced by Kyle Leahy. Leahy was greeted giving up a single to India, and walking Witt Jr to load the bases, before allowing two more runs to score as Garcia singled into right field, driving in Isbel and India, to push the lead to 10-7.
Steven Cruz earned the win in relief, improving to 2-0 on the season, pitching 1 2/3 innings, striking out two batters. India led the way at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Witt Jr (2-4, 4 RBIs), Pasquantino (2-5, 2 RBIs), and Isbel (2-3, 2 R's) also contributed to the offense.
For the Cardinals, Matz took the loss, falling to 3-2, pitching 1 1/3 innings giving up two runs on three hits and striking out two. Burleson led the way going 3-for-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored, walking once. Winn (2-4, 1 R, 1 BB) and Gorman (2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) also added contributions.
It will be a rematch at Busch Stadium tomorrow, as Noah Cameron (2-1, 1.05 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals against Miles Mikolas (4-2, 3.90 ERA) for the Cardinals. When the two matched up at Kauffman Stadium, it was Cameron's home debut, and the Royals fell 1-0, the only run being a home run by Jordan Walker, who is currently on the IL for St. Louis.
First pitch tomorrow is at 6:45pm. Pregame coverage for the Royals will begin at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM), while pregame coverage for the Cardinals will be joined at 6:35 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.