Additional Coverage:
- Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans lead the Royals over the Orioles 1-0 to open AL Wild Card Series (nbcsports.com)
The Kansas City Royals made a triumphant return to the playoffs after nine years with a 1-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of their AL Wild Card Series.
Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals’ batting leader, drove in the only run of the game with a single in the sixth inning. Starting pitcher Cole Ragans pitched six strong innings, allowing only four hits and striking out eight batters.
The Royals’ bullpen, which was a weakness during the regular season, stepped up in the playoffs. Sam Long, Kris Bubic, and Lucas Erceg combined to shut down the Orioles the rest of the way, earning the save for Erceg.
Despite boasting one of the most powerful offenses in baseball, the Orioles struggled to produce with runners in scoring position. Corbin Burnes, Baltimore’s ace, pitched well, but the Royals’ defense and timely hitting proved too much to overcome.
The Royals are now one win away from advancing to the AL Division Series against the New York Yankees. They will send All-Star pitcher Seth Lugo to the mound in Game 2 on Wednesday, while the Orioles are expected to start Zach Eflin.