Bobby Witt Jr. hits milestone & Drew Waters has web gem, but Kansas City Royals fall

The Kansas City Royals finally got a quality start from a starting pitcher. Daniel Lynch took an early punch but recovered to answer the bell against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.

Lynch pitched six innings and allowed three runs. He surrendered eight hits and struck out four batters. The Orioles did damage early as Austin Hays greeted him with a leadoff homer.

“I have been trying to be more competitive in the zone, and I missed a couple middle where I got outs,” Lynch said. “I threw 88 pitches in six innings. It’s kind of a give and take there. We are always trying to be better and these are really good hitters. If you miss in the middle, sometimes they are going to get you.”

However, Lynch battled to give the Royals a chance late.

His fastball and changeup generated 38 swings and 14 whiffs. He also mixed in his knuckle-curve to keep the Orioles honest.

“The stuff felt good,” Lynch said. “I just don’t think I made enough pitches to give us a chance to win the game there.”

Down one outfielder, as was announced before the game, the Royals scored two runs but it wasn’t enough. The deficit was too much to overcome in a 3-2 loss at Camden Yards.

In the third inning, Nicky Lopez hit a triple against Orioles starter Tyler Wells. Nick Pratto followed with a sacrifice fly. The Royals would have one more opportunity late. In the seventh inning, a wild pitch scored Maikel Garcia from third base, and there were runners on second and third with two out.

However, Lopez couldn’t capitalize on the scoring chance. He struck out and tossed his helmet and bat in disgust.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Orioles starter Tyler Wells was tough to hit.

“He’s got that good carry fastball, and it looked like we had trouble with the cutter,” Quatraro said. “He’s got a good change-up. As far as I could tell, when he tried to land that curveball, he didn’t miss. There were a lot of strikes in a limited number of pitches.”

The Orioles closed the door in the ninth. Felix Bautista earned the save, as the Royals lost their fourth consecutive game amid less-than-stellar conditions in Baltimore.

Vinnie Pasquantino exits Royals game with injury

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino left Friday’s game with right shoulder discomfort. In the seventh inning, Pasquantino was replaced by Matt Duffy at first base.

Duffy singled in his lone at-bat.

Nate Eaton replaced Duffy on the bases. Eaton remained in the game as the Royals shifted around defensively. Eaton took over in left field. Meanwhile, Nick Pratto moved to first base.

“We are going to monitor him overnight,” Quatraro said of Pasquantino. “It’s just shoulder soreness right now.”

Here’s more on the injury.

Bobby Witt Jr. collects 20th stolen base

There is an old saying that “speed thrills” in baseball. Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has generated a lot of highlights with his blinding speed.

On Friday, Witt collected his 20th stolen base this season.

In the fourth inning, Witt reached base with a one-out single. He quickly got into scoring position as he swiped second base off Orioles starter Tyler Wells. He slid in ahead of the throw from catcher Adley Rutschman.

“It’s obviously a goal to just get on base and produce runs,” Witt said. “I just got to keep doing it and keep it going. It’s just something to stay healthy and stay getting on base. Stay trying to produce runs. That’s my job to try and help produce runs.”

Witt ranks fourth in MLB in steals. At his current pace, he is positioned to shatter his career mark of 30 steals. He credits his offseason work for the increase in steals this season.

“It’s just like timing a 10-yard dash,” Witt said. “The place I work out at, APEC in Fort Worth, Texas, we just kind of do that and get the first-step quickness. The next thing in games is a lot different. It’s trying to get reads and picking up things. It’s a relaxed aggression. Let your muscles relax and then just go.”

This season, Witt has reached 20 steals through 62 games. By comparison, Witt set his career mark in 150 games during his rookie campaign.

Drew Waters showcases defensive wizardry with web gem

The Royals are giving Drew Waters a chance to secure the center-field job. Waters helped his case in the sixth inning by robbing Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo of extra bases.

Mateo hit a line drive into the gap. Waters raced over to snag the baseball. He laid out with full extension to make a diving catch.

“It was a tremendous play. I didn’t think he was going to get there,” Quatraro said. “I saw he got a good jump but that ball looked like it was sinking pretty quickly.”

The defensive play was important.

It helped get Royals starter Daniel Lynch through six innings and qualify for a quality start. Also, Waters kept a speedy runner off the base paths as Mateo had collected two steals in the game.

What’s next: The Royals continue their three-game series against the Orioles. Brady Singer will start Saturday afternoon at Camden Yards. KC has yet to announce a starter for Sunday’s finale.