Series Lead to Rockies
Kansas City Royals fall to Colorado Rockies 3-1 after Massey's costly error.
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Key Points
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In the fourth inning, a routine grounder mishandled by Royals second baseman Michael Massey allowed a Rockies run, and Brenton Doyle followed with an RBI double, helping Colorado push the lead to 3-0.
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Colorado closer Jordan Romano earned the save in the game.
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Tomoyuki Sugano pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with two strikeouts, earning the win; Michael Wacha surrendered three runs (one earned) over six innings despite seven strikeouts but took the loss.
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AP News provides team context: Rockies are 25-29 at home and 43-67 overall, Royals are 46-65 overall and 20-38 on the road; Royals are 20-12 in games they hit two or more home runs.
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Lane Thomas has a strong track record against Colorado, batting .305/.380/.524 with an OPS of .904 in 94 plate appearances, and he performs even better at Coors Field ( OPS 1.006 ).
The Kansas City Royals dropped to 46-65 on the season after falling 3-1 to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, according to KMMO. Tomoyuki Sugano held Kansas City to one run over 6 2/3 innings, and Colorado closer Jordan Romano locked down the save to give the Rockies a 1-0 series lead.
The loss leaves Kansas City 13 games behind in the AL Central. Carter Jensen's solo home run in the sixth inning was the Royals' only offense. Michael Wacha gave up three runs over six innings despite striking out seven, taking the loss with no run support.
Massey Error and Doyle Double Seal Colorado's Lead
Colorado built its lead with help from Kansas City's defense. In the fourth inning, Royals second baseman Michael Massey mishandled a routine grounder, letting a Rockies run score. Brenton Doyle then hit an RBI double to push the lead to 3-0, according to KMMO.
The Rockies had also scored in the first inning on an RBI single from TJ Rumfield. Sugano made that slim lead hold up. He allowed just five hits and struck out two, earning the win KMMO reported.
Royals' Road Woes Put Them in a Deep Hole
Kansas City came into this series struggling badly away from home. The Royals are just 20-38 on the road this season, according to Yahoo Sports. The Rockies, meanwhile, are 25-29 at home and 43-67 overall — a team also fighting to avoid last place.
One bright spot for Kansas City: the Royals are 20-12 when they hit two or more home runs in a game, per Yahoo Sports. Jensen's blast in the sixth showed that power is still there. But one homer was not enough at Coors Field on Thursday.
Lane Thomas Could Be KC's Best Weapon at Coors
If the Royals want to even the series, Lane Thomas may be their biggest weapon. He slashes .305/.380/.524 against Colorado overall, with an OPS of .904 in 94 plate appearances. At Coors Field specifically, his OPS jumps to 1.006, according to Yahoo Sports.
Coors Field inflates offense for everyone. But Thomas has shown he can take real advantage of the park. Kansas City will need him to do exactly that as Luinder Avila takes the mound against Colorado's Ryan Feltner in Game 2, per Star Democrat.
Two Weak Pitching Staffs Make Series Hard to Predict
The Rockies' rotation carries a 6.02 ERA — the worst in MLB, according to Predictem. The Royals' bullpen is not much better, posting a 5.31 ERA with 21 blown saves this season. Whichever weakness shows up more could decide who takes the series.
The MLB Trade Deadline on August 3 could also shake things up. Roster moves before or during the series could change which arms each team uses, according to Predictem. Both clubs are sellers, so the rosters KC and Colorado close the series with may look different from the ones that opened it.
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