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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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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 bear down 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.

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.

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.

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.