By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals put together a late rally, but it was to little to late, as they fell 7-5 in a series opener to the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday night.
The Athletics got to Royals starter Alec Marsh early, putting up two runs in the first inning, but Kansas City would answer in the second inning as second baseman Nick Loftin hit the first home run of his career, a two run homer to left field, knotting the game up.
But Oakland would get to Marsh over the next two innings following a scoreless second, snatching the lead back on JJ Bleday's second double of the game in the bottom of the third, and the very next at bat Miguel Andujar would single to bring across Max Schuemann for a 4-2 lead at the end of three.
Marsh would make his way out to the mound again to start the fourth, but would be chased promptly without recording an out and giving up a three run home run to Zack Gelof, bringing on Sam Long in relief.
Maikel Garcia would add another run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice hit, grounding out and allowing Kyle Isbel to score following his triple to lead off the inning. Kansas City would be held scoreless until the eighth inning.
With the bases loaded, Freddy Fermin would ground out for the first out of the inning, scoring Vinnie Pasquantino, Loftin also grounding out in the very next at bat to score Salvador Perez before former Royal Scott Alexander would come on and retire Adam Frazier to end the inning.
The Royals bullpen would put together five scoreless innings of relief with a combined five strikeouts, surrendering just four hits in the effort.
Game two of the series on Wednesday will feature Cole Ragans taking the mound for Kansas City while Oakland starter Luis Medina will look for his first win of the season. First pitch is at 8:40pm with an 8pm pregame on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).