Bobby Witt Jr. & Cole Ragans deliver Kansas City Royals first postseason win vs. Orioles

The Kansas City Royals needed their superstars to come through in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card series against the Baltimore Orioles.

They did.

Royals left-handed ace Cole Ragans dueled with Orioles star Corbin Burnes at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. And Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. stepped onto the national stage to lead the offense.

Both players lived up to the moment. Ragans was dominant and Witt had a decisive RBI single in the Royals’ 1-0 victory.

“This is what you dream of, being able to come out here and play,” Witt said. “It was pretty cool to hear everyone booing you when you go out there. Just hearing the fans yelling at you — and then whenever you are able to get the job done and win a game is pretty special.”

The Royals lead the best-of-three series 1-0. KC right-hander Seth Lugo will start in Game 2 with a chance to send the club to the ALDS.

Ragans pitched six scoreless innings. He surrendered four hits and struck out eight batters before exiting with left calf cramps. He had thrown 60 of 80 pitches for strikes.

“I just kind of felt it grabbing a little bit and didn’t want to push it too far,” Ragans said. “You know, I want to be healthy, as I plan on having quite a few more starts. So I didn’t want to push it where it ends up being something more serious than it needs to be.”

KC recorded five hits against Burnes. In the sixth inning, third baseman Maikel Garcia worked a one-out walk to represent the go-ahead run. Garcia stole second to get into scoring position. He advanced to third base after Michael Massey was retired on a groundout.

Witt drove Garcia in with the RBI single. He drilled a 94.6-mph cutter into left field as the Royals took the lead.

“I knew that was a pitch he is always going to go to,” Witt said. “That’s one of his best pitches and he has a lot of success with it.”

Burnes allowed the one run in eight innings. He issued one walk and struck out three batters.

Royals bullpen seals the win

The Royals turned to their bullpen down the stretch.

Left-handed reliever Sam Long pitched a scoreless seventh inning before turning it over to relief duo Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg to close out the game.

Bubic allowed two baserunners in the eighth inning. However, Erceg shut the door with a four-out save and secured the Game 1 victory.

The Orioles finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.

“Every win is super important, but to get the first one, you know, kind of puts us in the driver’s seat,” Erceg said. “So we’re going to put our foot on the gas and not look back. We are going to finish this thing strong no matter what.”

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Here are more notables from Tuesday’s game:

Cole Ragans escapes 5th inning trouble

The Orioles had their best scoring opportunity in the fifth inning.

Ragans allowed a one-out double to Ramon Urias after outfielder MJ Melendez misplayed a line drive in the left-field gap. Then, he surrendered a single to Cedric Mullins as Baltimore had runners on the corners.

It was a crucial spot in the game. Ragans needed to a key out as Orioles catcher James McCann walked to the plate. The Royals ace struck out McCann on three pitches: a changeup, four-seam fastball and knuckle-curve.

“The three-pitch strikeout, you could tell he was bearing down right there,” Quatraro said.

McCann swung over the top of the knuckle-curve in the dirt. With two outs, Ragans retired Orioles star Gunnar Henderson with a his heater.

“Trust the guys behind me,” Ragans said of the moment. “Trust Sal (Perez) back there behind the dish and try to execute.”

Ragans fed Henderson with three four-seam fastballs before getting him to chase with an 85.2 mph slider. It was his seventh strikeout of the game.

The Royals kept the game scoreless. Ragans was fired up walking off the mound as he worked out of a key moment.

Tommy Pham makes sliding catch

The Royals made some terrific defensive plays against the Orioles.

In the second inning, Royals outfielder Tommy Pham robbed Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle of extra bases with a nice sliding grab.

“Tommy, that’s a great play right there,” Quatraro said. “It was an early-in-the-count swing to get a quick out. That’s a difference maker there.”

The catch was the first out of the frame. Ragans was able to strike out designated hitter Adley Rutschman and work around a Colton Cowser single to end the inning.

Next on the KC Royals’ playoff schedule:

The Royals continue the AL Wild Card series against the Orioles. KC will send veteran right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo to the mound in Game 2.

Lugo will make his first postseason start after going 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA this season. His last playoff appearance came in 2022 with the New York Mets. The Orioles haven’t announced their Game 2 starter.