How KC Royals dropped third game of key series against Cleveland Guardians

The Kansas City Royals celebrated Bo Jackson on Saturday afternoon. The iconic two-sport athlete got his place in the Royals Hall of Fame.

Much like his KC tenure, the Royals have played with relentless style. It has afforded them two critical wins in the important four-game series against the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.

However, the Royals weren’t able to get a third consecutive victory. The Guardians picked up a 7-2 win in third game of the series on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium.

Royals ace pitcher Cole Ragans surrendered five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in the loss. Ragans struggled to keep the baseball in the yard as the Guardians hit two home runs, including a controversial one, to improve to 52-29 this season.

“Not great,” Ragans said of his start. “I felt like I didn’t command stuff overall. Fell behind a lot and they made me pay.”

Ragans missed in some key spots, especially when he surrendered RBI doubles to Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor in the fifth inning. Those runs extended the Guardians’ advantage and forced the Royals to turn to their bullpen.

Ramirez finished 2 for 5. He hit his 23rd home run in the seventh, off Royals reliever Will Smith, pushing his RBI total to 75.

“I got it up and just missed away,” Ragans said of the Ramirez at-bat. “Just a really good hitter. See what he has done throughout his career. Can’t do anything about it. Just got to be better.”

KC failed to keep pace.

The Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey each homered, but the Royals lineup mustered just four other hits against the Guardians’ pitching staff.

Cleveland right-hander Tanner Bibee allowed two earned runs in six innings. He earned his seventh victory of the season.

“He’s a good pitcher and he has been good all year,” Massey said. “He had his fastball today and the slider and changeup. So, he just located well and kept changing speeds. Unfortunately, we just didn’t adjust very well.”

The Royals dropped to 46-39 and will look to win the home series on Sunday.

Missed previous games of the series?

Game 1: Royals stellar bullpen effort helps secure 2-1 victory over Guardians

Game 2: KC offense comes alive in big home win vs. Guardians

Here are more notable aspects from Saturday’s game:

Fair or Foul?

The Royals were on the losing end of a controversial replay review.

In the fourth inning, Guardians outfielder Jhonkensy Noel hit a ball that landed near the left-field foul pole. To the naked eye, the baseball appeared to land in foul territory.

The umpire crew enacted a replay review.

“Well, I clearly thought it was foul,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I never lost sight of the ball, which you generally do if it’s a home run because it goes behind the pole and you can’t see it.

“So, I saw the ball the whole way. You know, before we even call replay, I was going to review it anyway because it’s a free review. To me, it was clearly foul.”

Multiple camera angles appeared to show that the baseball never crossed into the field of play. Still, the question remained whether the baseball made contact with the yellow foul pole.

“Afterwards, hearing it hit the black wire to the left of the pole, I’m pretty unclear on how they have that be a call stands,” Quatraro said.

It was difficult to tell whether the baseball did in fact make contact, in the umpire’s estimation, so the call on the field was upheld. There was no clear evidence to support overturning the home run call, so two runs scored to give Cleveland the lead — for good, as it turned out.

“So clearly (that was) a huge point in the game,” Quatraro said. “Definitely frustrated because that’s why we have replay, to avoid things like that.”

What’s next on the KC Royals’ schedule?

The Royals conclude their four-game series against the Guardians on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.

Right-hander Seth Lugo will start in the series finale. He owns an MLB-leading 10 wins and looks to build off his last outing. Lugo pitched six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

The Guardians will send southpaw pitcher Logan Allen to the mound. He is 8-3 with a 5.72 ERA this season.