By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals achieved their first series sweep of the season, beating the Colorado Rockies in both games of Thursday's doubleheader, winning game one 7-4 and game two 6-2.
In game one, after the Rockies took a quick 1-0 lead in the top half of the first, Hunter Goodman singling to score Brenton Doyle, the Royals snagged the lead back in the bottom half of the inning. Maikel Garcia doubled to open the inning and Bobby Witt Jr was hit by a pitch, before Salvador Perez drove both runners in with a double for the 2-1 lead.
Colorado tied the game up in the second inning, a solo home run by Jordan Beck, before taking the lead once again in the third inning with another home run, this time a two run blast from Goodman. But the Royals tied up the game in the bottom of the third, Perez hitting his second double of the game then scoring on a single by Michael Massey. Massey came home on a single from Drew Waters.
Starting pitcher Cole Ragans exited the game to start the fourth inning, with what the Royals later reported was groin tightness, making way for Angel Zerpa on the mound. Zerpa gave up the final hit for the Rockies in the inning, and also walked one in the fifth which would be the final baserunners of the game.
The Royals took the lead back for good in the bottom of the fifth inning. Rockies starter Germán Márquez issued back to back walks to Perez and Cavan Biggio. Jake Bird came on in relief and retired Massey and Hunter Renfroe, but hit Waters with a pitch, before Kyle Isbel singled to drive in both Perez and Biggio. Isbel also drove in Tyler Tolbert in the seventh inning with a single for the final Kansas City run of the game.
Zerpa earned the win in game one, now 1-0 on the season, pitching two innings and giving up one hit and walking one, also striking out one. Carlos Estévez earned his sixth save. Garcia (2-5), Perez (2-4, 2 RBI's), Waters (2-3, 1 RBI), Isbel (2-4, 3 RBI's), and Renfroe (2-3) led the way hitting in the opener on the day. Bobby Witt Jr also had a hit, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.
In game two, the Royals jumped out to a larger lead, scoring five runs in the first five innings. Perez continued his hot day with a double in the second inning, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Massey. In the third inning, Freddy Fermin singled and Jonathan India walked, but India was thrown out at second base, on a groundout by Witt Jr. Fermin was picked off at third base, and Witt Jr stole second, then came home on a single from Vinne Pasquantino for the 2-0 lead.
A three run fifth inning for the Royals started rough with a strikeout from Waters and a groundout by Fermin, but after India doubled, Witt Jr singled to move his hit streak to a career best 16 games, scoring India. Pasquantino walked, and a wild pitch moved both into scoring position, and both scored on Perez's fourth double of the day, building the lead to 5-0.
Colorado found their way onto the scoreboard in the sixth inning, Beck hitting his second home run of the series, and his second of the season. Beck homered again in the eighth inning, for the final run of the game for the Rockies. Kansas City extended their lead in the bottom of the eighth, after Massey singled and was pinch ran for by Tolbert, Tolbert stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, before scoring on a groundout by Waters.
Michael Lorenzen got the win in the second game, going to 2-3 on the season, pitching six innings and giving up one run on five hits, walking four and striking out seven. Perez led the way hitting in game two, going 3-4 with two RBI's.
Kansas City stays home tomorrow, beginning a series with the Houston Astros. Seth Lugo will open the series for the Royals against Hayden Wesneski for the Astros. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame coverage will start at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.