A Collapse in the 10th
The Kansas City Royals had a chance to steal a win on Monday. They needed just one more out. Instead, the game slipped away in the top of the 10th inning. Craig Kimbrel came in to pitch with the score tied at zero. He allowed five singles. He gave up five runs. The Diamondbacks walked off with a 5-4 victory. This was not a close loss. It was a blowout in the extra frames.
The damage started fast. A sacrifice fly from Lars Nootbaar started the scoring. Then Geraldo Perdomo, Gabriel Moreno, and Nolan Arenado all hit run-scoring singles. They put the game out of reach before the Royals even batted in the 10th. According to Yahoo Sports, the Diamondbacks scored five times in that single inning to take control. The Royals’ bullpen has been a question mark all year, but this performance was hard to watch.
The Heartbreak of the Rally
Kansas City did not go down without a fight. In the bottom of the 10th, the team mounted a serious comeback attempt. Kyle Isbel walked to start the inning. Carter Jensen hit a double to score the first run of the game. Bobby Witt Jr. was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Salvador Perez then doubled to bring all three runners home. The crowd roared as the lead cut to one run.
Pinch-runner Tyler Tolbert advanced to third on a long fly ball hit by Michael Massey. The Royals had the tying run in scoring position with two outs. The game concluded when Nick Loftin struck out. The rally was real, but the final out killed the hope. Per azcentral.com, the Diamondbacks held off the rally to hang on for the win. It was a cruel end to a game that felt like a classic Royals battle until the very last pitch.
Bigger Issues Loom Ahead
This loss hurts, but the bigger story might be the injury news. Tuesday will see Carlos Estévez undergo surgery on his right shoulder. MLB.com‘s Anne Rogers stated the Royals will almost certainly reject the $13 million club option for 2027. That is a massive financial hit for a player who only recorded one out this season. In the previous year, he recorded 42 saves, posted a 2.45 ERA, and earned an All-Star selection.
Now, the team faces a different reality. A foot injury occurred during his initial outing, followed by a rotator cuff strain while rehabbing. Manager Brad Quatraro explained the situation regarding the surgery. “It’s going to be somewhat exploratory.” When they enter, the exact course of action remains unknown to them. He and we have exhausted the whole rehab process. Quatraro noted that he attempted every available option, yet the condition simply did not improve. The Royals need answers, and they need them fast. The Diamondbacks won’t give them any easy games as the season winds down.
Michael Wacha and Daniel Lynch IV are lined up for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The rotation has to step up. The bullpen needs to find stability. The Royals showed they can score runs, but they cannot keep giving them away in the 10th inning. This team has heart, but heart alone does not win games in September.
