By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Needing some length from their starting pitcher after a series against the Chicago Cubs that taxed their bullpen, the Cincinnati Reds got a quality start from Nick Martinez as they beat the Royals 7-4 at Kauffman Stadium on Memorial Day.
For the Royals, it was their sixth loss in their last ten games as Kansas City has seen their offense be stagnant as of late. Prior to the game on Monday, the Royals made a move to spark the lineup, optioning struggling utility player Cavan Biggio to Triple A Omaha for outfielder John Rave. Rave was having a breakout season in Omaha, posting a .301 average with nine home runs and 25 RBIs.
The Reds opened the scoring in the first inning, TJ Friedl scoring on a sacrifice fly by Austin Hays. Cincinnati added three more runs in the third inning as Gavin Lux singled home Elly De La Cruz, Tyler Stephenson hit a single to drive in Hays, and Lux scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Benson. The lead swelled even more in the fifth inning off Royals starter Michael Lorenzen when Stephenson hit a two run home run, putting the Reds up at the end of five innings 6-0.
Kansas City did begin to make a rally in the seventh inning, cutting the lead in half with a three run inning. Vinnie Pasquantino singled to open the inning before Salvador Perez blasted his fourth home run of the season to left field. Maikel Garcia followed that with a double and advanced to third on a bunt by Rave, that was initially called safe before being overturned on a challenge, and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Nick Loftin cutting the lead to 6-3.
Santiago Espinal doubled home Hays, who tripled, in the top of the eighth for the final run for the Reds. Kansas City added their final run in the ninth inning after loading the bases, Pasquantino coming home to score on a balk by relief pitcher Emilio Pagán.
Lorenzen fell to 3-6 with the loss, pitching five innings and giving up six runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking three. Angel Zerpa, Evan Sisk, and Steven Cruz combined to give up three hits, one run, with Sisk and Cruz each striking out three. At the plate, Pasquantino led the way going 3-4 with two runs scored
Kansas City and Cincinnati continue their series tomorrow. Daniel Lynch (3-1, 1.57 ERA) will get the start as the Royals will put together another bullpen game, taking on former Royal Brady Singer (5-3, 4.88 ERA) for the Reds. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame coverage begins at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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