Royals Report: KC Bats Come Alive As #RallyMantis Dies

The KC Royals won their third straight game using an offensive outburst to down the Minnesota Twins 7-3 at Target Field Friday night. Unfortunately, their good luck charm Rally Mantis made the trip but died in the clubhouse.

The Kansas City Royals improved to 56-59 with their 7-3 win, and remain 10 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. The Twins fell to 46-70 and remain in last place in the Central.

Last Saturday the KC Royals strength coordinator rescued a massive praying mantis from the clubhouse trash. Outfielder Billy Burns put him on the dugout rail and Kansas City ended up scoring more than three runs for the first time in 10 games. The Kansas City Royals have gone 5-1 since the arrival of the pet that fans dubbed #RallyMantis on Twitter.

After winning their second series in a row for the first time since mid-June, the players put Rally Mantis in a cage and took him on their road trip to Minnesota. Sadly, after a week in captivity, Rally Mantis died despite many attempts to revive him.

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However, the KC Royals continued to win on Friday, scoring seven runs while banging out 11 hits. Starter Yordano Ventura provided 7.0 solid innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, and 3 earned runs while striking out 9. Ventura earned his eighth win of the season to pull within one game of evening his record (8-9).

The Kansas City Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead after scoring single runs in the first and second innings, but the Twins responded with a solo home run from Miguel Sano in the second and a two-run shot by Brian Dozier in the third to seize a 3-2 lead. However, Kansas City scored two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh to jump out to a 7-3 bulge.

Rookie reliever Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless eighth, and Joakim Soria finished off the ninth without allowing a run while striking out two.

The only starter that failed to hit safely was Lorenzo Cain, who went 0-5. The big hitting star was designated hitter Kendrys Morales, who went 2-2 with 1 home run and 2 walks.

Below is a tribute video for Rally Mantis made by Danny Duffy:

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Let’s hope the Kansas City Royals have rediscovered their “keep the line moving” offense in Minnesota. That would be a great legacy for Rally Mantis, who will live forever in KC Royals lore if the team can make a late run to the playoffs.