Bobby Witt Jr. delivered the game-winning RBI in the ninth as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 4-3 win against the visiting Athletics on Tuesday.
Down by two and unable to capitalize with the bases loaded in the eighth, the Royals made no mistake in the ninth. With pinch runner John Rave and Michael Massey on, Hogan Harris walked Carter Jensen to fill the bases. Tyler Tolbert’s pinch-hit single drove in Rave and Massey to tie it 3-3 with one out.
Harris (3-2) was then lifted for Elvis Alvarado, who gave up a two-out single to Witt that allowed Jensen to come home for the winning run. Kansas City has won three straight games and four of five.
Carlos Duran (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Omaha earlier in the day, tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his first major league win.
The A’s took a 1-0 lead in the first. Zack Gelof walked, Jeff McNeil singled and Jonah Heim walked to load the bases. Tommy White then connected for a single to left to bring in Gelof.
Royals starter Daniel Lynch IV settled down after a shaky first, getting the Athletics out in order in each of the next three innings on just 22 pitches after tossing 23 in the opening frame alone.
The A’s, who have lost three of their last four games, added to their lead in the sixth. Henry Bolte knocked an infield single to lead it off and Gelof followed with a walk. McNeil put a single to left that drove in Bolte to make it 2-0.
Black retired Heim and White, then loaded the bases with a walk to Lawrence Butler. Black forced in a run with another walk to Max Muncy, bringing in Gelof.
Kansas City had just five baserunners through the first six innings before finally breaking through in the seventh.
Jac Caglianone opened with a double and came around to score when Vinnie Pasquantino knocked a double, cutting it to 3-1.
Lynch gave up one run on two hits in four innings.
Brady Basso held Kansas City scoreless on two hits in 2 1/3 innings as the opener for the Athletics.
