Royals Report: 5 Things About 4-3 Loss In Philadelphia

Jul 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) and center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) celebrate a victory against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) and center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) celebrate a victory against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Jul 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) and center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) celebrate a victory against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) and center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) celebrate a victory against the Kansas City Royals at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals dropped the opening game of their three game series against the Phillies, losing 4-3 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelpia.

The Kansas City Royals dropped to 42-37, and 7.0 games behind the surging Cleveland Indians who won their 14th straight on Friday night. The Phillies improved to 36-45, and 13 games behind the Nationals in the NL East.

The KC Royals were unable to extend their two-game road winning streak, despite the Phillies riding a seven-game home losing skid coming into the game. However, Philadelphia had won three in a row on the road. The Kansas City Royals need to at least split the remaining two games to earn a much-need winning road trip.

Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson made the Royals hitters look silly most of the night, lasting 6.0 innings while allowing only 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run with 6 strikeouts. The KC Royals did pull within two runs in the eighth inning on Kendrys Morales two-run home run, but they weren’t able to mount a credible threat against Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomer in the ninth.

On to my observations about the game:

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