By MATT PIKE
For a second day in a row the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks went into extra innings, and once again the Royals fell in extras losing to the Diamondbacks 5-3 in 11 innings at Kauffman Stadium.
It was a struggle for both teams to score until late, the first run coming in the eighth inning. Royals starter Michael Wacha threw six innings and gave up just three hits while walking four and striking out four. On the other side, making his return after a 15 month recovery from Tommy John surgery, Diamondbacks starter Corbin Burnes threw three innings surrendering two hits and walking two, also striking out two. Relievers Kade Strowd, Kevin Ginkel, Dennis Santana, and Jonathan Loáisiga combined for five innings of relief giving up three hits, walking two, and striking out three, before Kansas City finally got on the board in the ninth, forcing extra innings.
The Diamondbacks started the scoring off Royals reliever Connor Thomas in the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles by Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno to start the inning, with Marte at third Geraldo Perdomo hit a sacrifice fly scoring Marte. In the top of the ninth, Tim Tawa added a solo home run to give Arizona a 2-0 advantage. In the bottom half of the inning though, with two outs, John Rave answered for the Royals with a two-run home run, driving in Michael Massey to tie ghe game and force extra innings.
In the top of the 10th inning, Perdomo scored for the Diamondbacks, after starting at second base and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, coming home on a single from Tawa. Kansas City answered in the bottom half when Kyle Isbel came home on a sacrifice fly from Vinnie Pasquantino, after Isbel had moved to third base on a wild pitch from relief pitcher Blake Walston. But then in the 11th, Ryan Waldschmidt advanced Ildemaro Vargas to third on a leadoff sacrifice bunt, and Lourdes Gurriel drove in Vargas after Rave missed the catch in right-center field, making it to third with a triple. Marte added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly.
Anthony Gose took the loss falling to 1-1 on the season for the Royals. At the plate, Massey was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk. Rave, who pinch hit for Matthew Lugo, was 1-for-3 with the home run and two RBIs, striking out twice.
Kansas City and Arizona wrap up their series tomorrow. Daniel Lynch IV (4-5, 3.51 ERA, 46Ks) is set to take the mound for the Royals while the Diamondbacks have yet to announce a starter. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame at 6pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.