CLEVELAND (AP) – The Kansas City Royals defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-2 on Monday night, propelled by home runs from Carter Jensen and Jonathan India.
Pitcher Michael Wacha delivered a strong performance, allowing only one run over seven innings.
In a notable achievement, All-Star third baseman José Ramírez became the franchise leader in games played for the Guardians, surpassing Terry Turner’s record with his 1,620th game, despite going 0 for 2 with two walks during the match.
Game Highlights
Jensen’s solo home run in the sixth inning gave the Royals a 2-1 lead, following a previous scoring opportunity in the fourth where the Royals capitalized on a mistake by the Guardians. Jonathan India added a two-run homer in the eighth, extending the Royals’ advantage to three runs.
For the Guardians, Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio each contributed solo home runs. However, the Guardians have now lost two of their last three games.
Pitching Performance
Wacha (1-0) showcased an impressive outing, surrendering just three hits while issuing three walks and striking out three. He threw a total of 102 pitches, with 62 strikes, marking him as the second Royals starter this season to exceed 100 pitches.
The only run against Wacha came in the third inning when Kwan hit a fastball down the right-field line, giving Cleveland an early 1-0 lead.
Upcoming Matchup
The Royals will next face the Guardians with left-handed pitcher Noah Cameron (1-0, 1.80 ERA) set to oppose Cleveland’s right-hander Gavin Williams (1-1, 2.25). The game has been rescheduled to an afternoon start due to anticipated frigid temperatures later in the evening.