By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Royals rallied late, and fell short by just inches, as their losing streak went to five games in a row, losing to the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals struggled to figure out Giants starter Mason Black, managing just four hits through six innings of baseball. Black struck out four and walked one, earning his first win of the 2024 season.
San Francisco would take the lead early, scoring their first run in the first inning, left fielder Heliot Ramos singling to drive in right fielder Mike Yastrzemski. The second run would not come until the sixth, this time on a single from catcher Patrick Bailey driving in Ramos.
Kansas City would put together a rally in the ninth inning, loading the bases thanks to back to back walks to Yuli Gurriel and Robbie Grossman, followed by Maikel Garcia reaching on a fielders choice by Giants shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald.
With the bases loaded, Garrett Hampson would come to the plate, and would slice a ball down the third base line from San Fransisco reliever Camilo Doval, players erupting from the Royals dugout to celebrate a walk off win before reality set in, the ball was foul by inches.
Hampson would end up hitting the ball deep enough for a sacrifice fly, scoring Gurriel and getting the Royals within one, but Tommy Pham would strike out swinging, leaving the winning run stranded 90 feet away.
Michael Wacha took the loss, falling to 13-8 on the season, striking out five but giving up two runs on six hits. Bobby Witt Jr was the Royals leading hitter going 3 -for-4
The Royals have changed the start time of Saturday's game, moving it up due to impending weather out of an abundance of caution, moving first pitch to 4:10pm from Kauffman Stadium. Brady Singer will start for Kansas City against Landen Roupp for the Giants. The game will air on KFEQ.