Giants shutout Royals to complete season’s first road sweep
Blake Snell #7 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.Ed Zurga/Getty Images
2024.09.22 – Blake Snell struck out nine in six strong innings and the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game series sweep with a 2-0 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
The Giants were officially eliminated from the postseason after a walk-off loss in Baltimore on Thursday. On the trip, the Giants have gone 5-1 with three shutout wins against two postseason hopefuls in the Orioles and Royals.
Kansas City (82-72) moved into the second AL wild-card ahead of Detroit (82-74) because it holds the tiebreaker, winning the season series against the Tigers 7-6. Minnesota is a half-game back of Kansas City and the Tigers, pending the outcome of its second game of a doubleheader against Boston.
The Royals were shutout for the second straight game and lost their seventh straight, dropping all six games of their homestand.
“It couldn’t have been a worse homestand,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s really disappointing.”
Snell (5-3) allowed two singles and a walk and didn’t allow a runner past first base. In his last 14 starts, he is 5-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts.
Working with an effective curveball, Snell held Royals’ batters to 1 for 13 when throwing a first-pitch strike. Opponents are hitting .121 this season when the 31-year-old left-hander gets ahead in the count.
“I was going to throw change-ups, but they were so on it,” Snell said. “So, I adjusted. (The curveball) was just there more today.”
2024.09.22 (Giants vs. Royals) See Full Highlights
San Francisco Giants’ Jerar Encarnacion slides home to score on a triple by Grant McCray during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
2024.09.22 (Giants vs. Royals) See Full Highlights
2024.09.22 (Giants vs. Royals) See Full Highlights
With that, the Giants have won each of Snell’s past seven starts — and 10 of his past 11. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old’s has the best mark in baseball among starters over that stretch. It also lowered his season ERA to 3.12. It was at 9.51 through June as Snell dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness.
“I wish I could have done it sooner,” Snell said. “I wish I was healthier. I wish I would have slowed down and listened to myself more. But it’s learning moments. Everything that happened, I’m happy about.”
With one out in the second, Grant McCray lined an RBI triple to right-center and scored on Brett Wisely’s two-out hit. McCray snapped an 0-for-13 skid with his first extra-base hit since Sept. 7.
Lugo (16-9) retired the next 16 batters and finished with five strikeouts and two runs allowed through seven innings.
“His command was impeccable today,” Quatraro said. “His stuff was really good.”
With two out and runners at second and third, the Giants intentionally walked Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases. Tyler Rogers induced a pop fly from Salvador Perez to end the threat.
2024.09.22 – Giants vs. Royals (NBC Sports Post Recap)
San Francisco Giants’ Brett Wisely (0) hits a single during a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Giants won 2-0. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
2024.09.22 – Giants vs. Royals (NBC Sports Post Recap)
2024.09.22 – Giants vs. Royals (NBC Sports Post Recap)
“Witt’s numbers against righties are off the charts,” Melvin said. “But it’s still not an easy thing to do because Salvy’s really good.”
Ryan Walker struck out one in the ninth, earning his ninth save.
San Francisco completed its first series sweep of Kansas City and its first series sweep against an American League opponent since April 15-17, 2022, at Cleveland.
“It’s nice to get a sweep against a good team,” Melvin said. “We’re playing pretty good right now.”
The Royals have scored four runs in their last five games and have held a lead in just one of their last 50 innings.
“We’ve got to put ourselves in more opportunities,” Quatraro said. “There’s plenty of ways to score runs.”
2024.09.22 – Giants vs. Royals (Locked On: Post Recap)
Tylor Rogers #71 of the San Francisco Giants pitches in the eight inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.Ed Zurga/Getty Images
2024.09.22 – Giants vs. Royals (Locked On: Post Recap)
2024.09.22 – Giants vs. Royals (Locked On: Post Recap)
Kansas City lost by shutout in consecutive games for the second time this season and the first time since June 22-23 at Texas.
“Every time we lose it’s hard,” Perez said. “We still have one more week. What happened at home, we’ll forget about that and try to win the next two series.”
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-5, 4.74 ERA) opposes Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-3, 5.09) in Arizona on Monday.
Royals: LHP Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.24) opposes Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (7-10, 4.44) in Washington on Tuesday.
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