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:
Next: Ian Kennedy