The Kansas City Royals' offensive struggles were evident in Game 3 of the Divisional Series. American League Divisional Series against the New York Yankees, as they managed only six hits throughout the game.
A Difficult Game with Few Offensive Opportunities
Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt limited the Royals to just four hits during his outing, and the team was only able to add two more hits against three Yankees relievers.
Despite having runners on base in four of the first five innings, Kansas City's offense could only come together in the fifth inning, when Kyle Isbel and Michael Massey connected for go-ahead hits with two outs to tie the game 2-2.
In the sixth inning, the Royals had another chance to score when Bobby Witt Jr. was given a ticket with a runner on third, but Vinnie Pasquantino was unable to capitalize, flying out to center field to end the inning. Witt Jr. again reached base in the eighth inning on a hit, advancing to third after Salvador Perez connected on a hit.
However, Yuli Gurriel ended the inning by flying out to center field, leaving the Royals with no more runs. In the end, Kansas City left six men on base and was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, which proved to be a major factor in their inability to generate offensive momentum.
The struggles of the Royals' key players at the plate have been evident throughout the series. Bobby Witt Jr. is averaging 1-for-13, Vinnie Pasquantino remains hitless at 0-for-12, and while Salvador Perez has managed three hits in 12 at-bats, it hasn't been enough to lift the team's offensive output.
These disappointing performances by key Royals players have left crucial opportunities untapped, especially in close games where runs are at a premium.
Eighth Decisive Entry
The game took a decisive turn in the top of the eighth inning when Giancarlo Stanton connected on a solo home run that put the Yankees ahead 3-2. This late inning hit proved to be the game winner as the Royals were unable to recover after Stanton's home run.
Despite their victory, the Yankees also faced difficulties with runners in scoring position, and finished 0-for-6 in such situations, leaving 11 men on base. Had the Royals been able to take advantage of New York's inability to capitalize on their opportunities, the outcome of the game might have been different.
Kansas City's pitching woes also played a significant role in their defeat. The Yankees' leadoff hitters have found success consistently in the series, reaching base 16 times in 26 innings. Eight of those runners eventually scored, further complicating the Royals' task of containing New York's offense.
In Game 3, starter Seth Lugo allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in the fourth and fifth innings, which led directly to the Yankees' first two runs. In the fourth inning, Lugo gave up a walk to Juan Soto, and although he retired the next two batters, he allowed a double to Stanton, which led to Soto scoring the Yankees' first run.
In the next inning, Anthony Volpe opened with a hit and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Soto, putting the Yankees ahead 2-0 at that point.
Celebrate every goal with your UEFA #NationsLeague predictions! ⚽
What are you waiting for to win with the match marathon, it's plus 20! 🤯 Take advantage of our deposit rates and secure your winnings with our fast and secure Cashout. 🔒💸
Play now! ➡ https://t.co/HCS0draMpV pic.twitter.com/Z7InyCpRRD
- Betcris (@Betcris) October 10, 2024
The Problem of Bases per Ball
Bases on balls have also been a persistent problem for Kansas City's pitching staff. Royals pitchers awarded a season-high nine bases on balls in Game 3, increasing the pressure on the team as they struggled to navigate around extra runners.
Although only one of these nine base on balls resulted in a run in this game, the total number of passports issued in the series amounted to 22, highlighting a recurring problem. In Game 1, three of the eight bases on balls allowed by Royals pitchers came around to score in what was a one-run loss.
Bases on balls have been a deciding factor in the Royals' losses, especially in one-run defeats in Games 1 and 3, where passports have directly influenced the outcome.
Heading into Game 4, scheduled for Thursday, October 10, the Royals find themselves in a do-or-die situation, as they are trailing 2-1 in the series. With momentum now on the Yankees' side after their Game 3 win, Kansas City will need to find a way to bounce back quickly, or risk being eliminated from the postseason.