By MATT PIKE
Michael Wacha needed just 79 pitches to get through seven strong innings and Bobby Witt Jr. homered to spark a four-run fourth as the Kansas City Royals continued to surge, beating the Cleveland Guardians 6-2 at Kauffman Stadium.
Jac Caglianone also went deep for the Royals on his bobblehead night, as Kansas City has now won four in a row and eight of 10. Nick Loftin delivered a two-run single with two outs in the fourth to give Kansas City a 4-2 lead. David Fry hit a two-run homer for Cleveland in the second inning to give the Guardians the first lead of the game, but Wacha retired 16 of his next 17 batters. Wacha, Matt Strahm and Alex Lange combined to throw a total of 95 pitches for the Royals.
Witt's 422-foot drive put the Royals on the board in the fourth. He went the first 27 games of the season without a home run before hitting three over the past eight games. Salvador Perez tied it 2-2 with an RBI single that went through the legs of pitcher Tanner Bibee, driving in Vinnie Pasquantino after his double. Kansas City then loaded the bases, setting up Loftin's key hit.
Caglianone's home run in the sixth extended the lead to 5-2. Kansas added the final run in the seventh inning as Pasquantino hit an RBI single to score Witt Jr, after he reached on a fielding error and stole third base, after advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Wacha earned the win, improving to 3-2, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out three over and walking one his seven innings. It was also a bounce back for Wacha, who over his last two starts gave up 10 runs in 10.1 innings while striking out 10 and walking six. At the plate, Pasquantino was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Caglianone was 1-for-3 with the home run, an RBI, and a walk, while Witt Jr was 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, also stealing a base.
Kansas City and Cleveland continue their series tomorrow. Stephen Kolek will make his season debut for the Royals, in place of Noah Cameron whose battling lower back tightness, taking on Gavin Williams (5-1, 2.70 ERA, 53K's) for the Guardians. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame will begin at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.