Royals’ bats wilt in KC’s 5th straight loss ... during heated MLB playoff chase

The Kansas City Royals’ offense has officially stalled.

As Major League Baseball’s drive toward the 2024 postseason continues, the Royals’ check engine light has come on. And it’s blaring an alarm that the Royals are struggling, unsuccessfully so far, to address.

The latest blow? The Royals were shut down 2-1 by the visiting San Francisco Giants on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. Right-handed starting pitcher Mason Black, who came in with an 0-4 record and ERA over 7.00, was dominant against the KC lineup.

The Royals have now lost five consecutive games.

“You’ve got to make your own breaks,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of his anemic offense. “We have every opportunity to hit a ball in the gap or a line drive up the middle or whatever it is.

“You don’t control a lot of that once the ball leaves the bat. Got to keep putting ourselves in the opportunities to get guys on base and for the action. Hopefully we break through.”

Black had struggled mightily prior to Friday’s game. In four of his seven starts, he allowed four-plus earned runs against the opposing team. And he’d never pitched into the sixth inning, or kept a baseball from leaving the yard in the majors.

But Black found a way to stymie the Royals. He allowed four hits and struck out four batters in 5 2/3 innings to earn his first major-league win.

Bobby Witt Jr. (two hits), Yuli Gurriel and MJ Melendez were the only KC hitters to connect against him. The remainder of the Royals’ lineup? Black surrendered one walk and before handing it over to the Giants’ bullpen.

“It’s baseball,” said Royals right fielder Adam Frazier, who was 0-for-2 with a walk Friday. “We went through a tough stretch two weeks ago and we turned it around. Now, we are going through another one. So we bounce back tomorrow. It’s a good team over there. They have good arms and they have good players.”

San Francisco did just enough against Royals right-handed starter Michael Wacha. In the first inning, outfielder Heliot Ramos recorded an RBI single, driving in Mike Yastrzemski as the first run for the Giants (75-79).

Ramos came a home run shy of the cycle. In the seventh inning, he scored on catcher Patrick Bailey’s RBI single.

Wacha fell to 13-8 this season. He allowed two runs in 5 2/3 while striking out five.

“The sixth (inning) was frustrating,” Wacha said. “Two quick outs and, you know, don’t execute a pitch. Then, the double and a ball finds a hole to end the night.”

The Royals fell to 82-72, and this loss comes as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. KC is now four games behind the Orioles for the first spot in the American League Wild Card standings.

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Here are more notable aspects of Friday’s game:

Royals fall short in 9th inning

The Giants rolled the dice with closer Camilo Doval in the ninth inning. He walked two batters and surrendered a fielder’s choice to Maikel Garcia.

Royals utilityman Garrett Hampson was next to fave Doval. Hampson hit line drives on consecutive pitches that were both ruled foul down the left-field line.

Hampson then faced a 2-2 count with the bases loaded. The Royals trailed 2-0 and Garcia represented the winning run on first base.

A review of the second foul ball prompted a lengthy delay. The umpires huddled and discussed the call on the field. After play resumed, Hampson hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1.

“I knew it was close,” Hampson said. “I figured we review it, you know, just by the spot in the game, even if it was maybe clear. From what I understand, it was just in front of the umpire, so (it was) unreviewable.”

Doval regrouped and struck out Tommy Pham with the winning run in scoring position.

Royals fail to cash in scoring chance

The Royals had an opportunity to tie the game in the second inning.

KC trailed 1-0 after the Giants took a quick lead. Gurriel began the inning with a base hit. Next, Melendez also singled to put two runners aboard for Frazier.

Frazier moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. The Royals, who have struggled with runners in scoring position, had a chance to take the lead with Garcia at the plate.

However, Garcia lined out to Giants first baseman Mark Canha and Kyle Isbel ended the rally with a flyout. Black escaped the inning unscathed.

The Royals finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They also left nine runners on base.

What’s next on the KC Royals’ schedule

The Royals continue their final regular-season series at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s game was moved up two hours due to the potential for inclement evening weather in the Kansas City area. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m., with Royals right-hander Brady Singer getting the start against the Giants.

Singer is searching for his 10th victory of the season. He owns a 3.53 ERA and has allowed one run or fewer in 14 of his 30 starts.

The Giants will start right-hander Landen Roupp. He will be making his 23rd appearance (third career start).