Aug 02, 2023

Royals win 4th straight, rally past retooling Mets 7-6 on 10th-inning balk

Posted Aug 02, 2023 4:16 AM
Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, center, is doused by Bobby Witt Jr. (7) after he scored the winning run when New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, center, is doused by Bobby Witt Jr. (7) after he scored the winning run when New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josh Walker balked home the winning run in the 10th inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied past the New York Mets 7-6 on Tuesday night for their season-best fourth straight victory.

Hours after the retooling Mets traded star pitcher Justin Verlander and two other players to cap a stunning deadline selloff, they blew a 6-4 lead provided by rookie Francisco Álvarez's two-run homer in the top of the 10th.

Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double in the bottom half and MJ Melendez tied it with a run-scoring single off Brooks Raley.

Following a two-out throwing error by rookie third baseman Brett Baty, Melendez scored when Walker balked with the bases loaded.

Pete Alonso hit his 31st homer for the Mets and added an RBI single in a three-run eighth that gave them a 4-3 lead.

Freddy Fermin’s sacrifice fly off Adam Ottavino in the bottom half tied it.

Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez (1) runs home to score the winning run after New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez (1) runs home to score the winning run after New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Walker balked with the bases loaded during the tenth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won 7-6 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

TRADE DEADLINE MOVEMENT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired pitcher Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals after being rebuffed in their pursuit of Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says Rodriguez used his no-trade clause to block a trade. The Dodgers sent minor league infielders Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa to the Royals for Yarbrough. The 31-year-old left-hander was 4-5 with a 4.24 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 14 appearances with the Royals. Roberts says he isn't sure whether Yarbrough will start or work out of the bullpen after he started seven games with Kansas City.

In another trade at the deadline Kansas City sent closer Scott Barlow to San Diego for minor league pitchers Henry Williams and Jesus Rios.

NEXT UP

Kansas City will look to continue their hot streak of play against the New York Mets in Game 2 of a three game series in Kansas City.  The Royals started is still to be determined and is expected to face the Mets Kodai Senga on Wednesday.  First pitch is at 7:10pm with a 6:30 pregame on KFEQ (95.3FM/680AM)