What was said about Lucas Erceg, Vinnie Pasquantino injuries as Royals fall to Astros

The Kansas City Royals were dealt a significant blow on Thursday night.

In more ways than one.

The Royals fell 6-3 to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park and also saw two key players exit the game with injuries. KC reliever Lucas Erceg and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino were injured on the same play.

Both left the game with apparent hand injuries. Erceg attempted to field a baseball with his bare hand and, after corralling the baseball, threw wildly to Pasquantino at first. Attempting to catch the baseball, Pasquantino got his hand caught as Astros catcher Yainer Diaz ran down the line.

“They’re still out getting tested, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Erceg and Pasquantino. “They’re getting X-rays on their hands, so we don’t have much to say yet.”

The Astros ended up scoring four runs in the eighth. Mauricio Dubon provided the major hit with a two-run single off Royals reliever John Schreiber, who had come in for Erceg.

“It was down and I wanted it a little bit more in toward the hands,” Schreiber said of the pitch he threw to Dubon. “You know, I left (it) a little more over the plate. Just got to get it in there in that situation.”

Astros outfielder Jason Heyward, who was making his club debut on Thursday, recorded two RBIs. In the fifth inning, he drilled a two-run double against Royals starter Brady Singer.

Singer earned a no decision after allowing two runs in six innings.

“Felt good,” Singer said. “I felt like the sinker had a lot of movement, and I threw it to my glove side a lot more. And the slider was the pitch tonight. It worked well.”

The Royals scored all three of their runs on a Kyle Isbel three-run double in the top of the seventh inning.

“I was trying to get any momentum going,” Isbel said. “(Astros starter Hunter) Brown was really good on his side and mixed it up really well. We were just trying to capitalize when the other guy came in.”

KC fell to 75-60 and is 1.5 games back of the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central.

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Here are more notables from Thursday’s game:

Two Royals injured on wacky play

In the eighth inning, Erceg and Pasquantino left the game with apparent injuries.

Erceg fielded a ground ball from Diaz. The baseball hit the palm of his throwing hand as it rolled away. Erceg hustled to pick up the baseball, but he threw wildly to Pasquantino.

Pasquantino extended his right arm to catch the baseball. As Diaz hustled down the line, Pasquantino’s hand made contact with Diaz. Pasquantino was clearly in pain and immediately walked off the field and into the Royals’ clubhouse.

“I can’t say for sure because he is still over there getting X-rays,” Quatraro said of Pasquantino’s injury. “All I know is he said it was hurting him, so we took him out.”

Erceg was checked by the Royals training staff. He exited the game as KC turned to Schreiber from the bullpen.

“(Royals assistant athletic trainer Chris) DeLucia was checking him out,” Quatraro said of Erceg. “He was in pain when he touched his finger. So there wasn’t a need for a conversation because I knew he wasn’t going to be able to throw another pitch.”

The Astros scored four runs in the eighth to take the 6-3 lead.

“Hopefully, Erceg is okay,” Schreiber said. “That’s a pretty nasty play over there that they had to go through.”

Royals stymied by Astros starter

The Royals faced a different Hunter Brown on Thursday night. The Astros starter was sharper in his second clash against the Royals.

His first one didn’t go well. Brown allowed nine earned runs and didn’t get out of the first inning against the Royals on April 11 at Kauffman Stadium.

Things were different at Minute Maid Park on Thursday. Brown limited the Royals early, allowing two hits through six innings. The Royals had just one baserunner who reached scoring position during that span.

“Brown is good,” Quatraro said. “We knew that coming into the game. He’s been on a heck of a run.”

However, KC started to get a better look in the seventh inning. Brown ran into trouble after Royals captain Salvador Perez reached on an error. Then third baseman Paul DeJong got aboard, and Brown walked MJ Melendez before departing.

The Royals made quick work of Astros reliever Bryan Abreu as Isbel came through with his bases-clearing double. The Royals led 3-2.

What’s next on the KC Royals schedule?

The Royals continue their weekend series against the Astros. On Friday, Royals right-hander Seth Lugo is set to start at Minute Maid Park.

Lugo is 14-8 with a 3.19 ERA this season. He will look to rebound after allowing six runs against the Philadelphia Phillies in his last outing. Lugo has lost six of his last nine starts, but will face an Astros team he defeated on April 10.

The Astros will start left-hander Framber Valdez. He is 13-6 with a 3.27 ERA in 23 starts this season.