Witt Jr. Dominates Athletics
Bobby Witt Jr. hits home run and scores four times as Royals defeat Athletics 9-5
Bobby Witt Jr. put on a one-man show Monday night, hitting his 15th home run of the season and scoring four times to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 9-5 win over the Athletics. AP reported that Witt also added an RBI double in the eighth inning, finishing the night as the clear offensive catalyst for Kansas City.
The Royals built a commanding 5-1 lead on the strength of Witt's two-run blast before holding off an Athletics rally to secure the victory. Kansas City starter Michael Wacha and reliever Steven Cruz combined on the mound to keep Oakland in check for most of the night, according to ABC7 News.
Witt's 15th Homer Blows the Game Open
The Royals spotted the Athletics a quick lead when Jeff McNeil hit the very first pitch of the game for a score. Kansas City answered fast. Witt's two-run home run — his 15th of the season — pushed the Royals ahead 5-1 and took the life out of Oakland's early momentum, according to WRAL.
Witt wasn't done. He came back in the eighth inning and laced an RBI double to add to his total. By the final out, he had crossed the plate four times. Few players in baseball do that kind of damage in a single game.
Garcia, Perez, and Caglianone Add Key Blows
Witt got plenty of help from his teammates. Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez both chipped in with key hits to keep the Royals' offense rolling. Jac Caglianone contributed two RBI singles, giving Kansas City run support that went well beyond just one player's big night, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
The Royals spread the damage across their lineup. Nine runs on the night showed a balanced attack. Kansas City did not need to rely on one big inning — they kept adding on throughout the game.
Athletics Cut Into Lead With Back-to-Back Home Runs
Oakland made things interesting in the fifth inning. Tommy White and Brian Serven hit back-to-back home runs to claw the score closer. The two-homer burst gave the Athletics some life and brought their fans briefly back into the game, per Daily Item.
But the Royals' lead was too large to overcome. Kansas City had built enough of a cushion that even the power surge from Oakland could not flip the result. The Athletics finished the night with five runs but could get no closer than four behind.
What's Next: Lynch Takes the Mound Tuesday
The two teams stay in Kansas City for Game 2 on Tuesday. Left-handed pitcher Daniel Lynch IV is set to start for the Royals. Oakland will counter with Jack Perkins on the mound, according to Leader Telegram.
The Royals will look to keep Witt's hot streak going. He is now at 15 home runs on the season and showing no signs of slowing down. Oakland will need a strong pitching performance from Perkins just to keep the game close.
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