KANSAS CITY ROYALS NEWS

Bobby Witt Jr. - First career multi-homer game Witt went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, a double, four RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings win over the Angels.

Impact Normally, a two-homer game from a big-name rookie would be the headline, but Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani put on an ever bigger show with a pair of long balls and eight RBI. Nonetheless, this was one of the best games of Witt's young career, and it ended a seven-game homer drought. The 22-year-old rookie is up to 10 homers, 36 RBI, 38 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and 16 doubles through 65 contests while adding a .243/.288/.458 slash line.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Royals take on the Angels after Santana's 4-hit game

The Kansas City Royals play the Los Angeles Angels after Carlos Santana had four hits on Tuesday in a 12-11 win over the Angels

JUNE 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Taylor Clarke - Clean inning Tuesday Clarke logged a hold with one perfect relief inning in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings win over the Angels.

Impact Clarke worked the eighth inning without trouble, but the game got chaotic after that. The 29-year-old is up to four holds in 26 appearances this season, maintaining a mid-leverage role in the Royals' bullpen. He's added a save, two blown saves, a 4.88 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 23:3 K:BB across 27.2 innings, but he's not expected to be in serious contention for regular save chances.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Scott Barlow - Blows save Tuesday Barlow allowed three runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in one inning, taking a blown save in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings win over the Angels.

Impact Barlow needed to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning, but he gave up a game-tying home run to Shohei Ohtani. This was just the second blown save in 10 chances for Barlow this season, and it's only the second time he's allowed multiple runs in an appearance. The 29-year-old's ERA ticked up to 2.32 with a 1.06 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB through 31 innings overall. He's given up four homers in 27 outings this year, matching his total from 71 appearances in 2021, but he's still the Royals' top option for saves.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dylan Coleman - Collects second win Coleman (2-1) walked one and struck out none in a scoreless inning to earn the win Tuesday versus the Angels.

Impact Coleman successfully kept the game tied in the 10th inning, and the Royals pulled ahead in the 11th. Across eight innings in June, Coleman has allowed one run, three hits and six walks with nine strikeouts. He's added two holds and a win in that span, though control remains an issue for the hard-throwing right-hander. Overall, he's logged a 3.18 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, three holds and a 33:23 K:BB in 28.1 innings this season without presenting much of a challenge to Scott Barlow's closer role.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Daniel Mengden - Snags save in 11-inning win Mengden allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out one in one inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings win over the Angels.

Impact The Royals' first four relievers Tuesday combined for just two innings, and Mengden was the last arm left in the 'pen. He successfully protected a two-run lead despite allowing a sacrifice fly to Shohei Ohtani in the 11th inning that brought the Angels within a run. This was just the second appearance of the season for Mengden, who has been used sparingly since joining the big club June 13 when Joel Payamps (illness) landed on the COVID-19 injured list. With Zack Greinke (elbow) soon to return from the 15-day injured list, Mengden and starter Kris Bubic are on the hot seat to keep their spots on the 26-man active roster.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonathan Heasley - Goes five innings in no-decision Heasley allowed four runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five-plus innings Tuesday versus the Angels. He did not factor in the decision.

Impact All four runs on Heasley's line came via the long ball -- he gave up a solo home run to Jared Walsh in the fourth inning and a three-run blast to Shohei Ohtani in the sixth before exiting. This was just the second time in eight outings Heasley's allowed multiple homers this year, and it was also the first game he's allowed more than three runs. He owns a 4.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 32:22 K:BB through 41.1 innings, and he'll carry a 1-3 record into his next start, projected for next week at home versus the Rangers.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Royals overcome Ohtani's 2 HRs, 8 RBIs to beat Angels 12-11

Shohei Ohtani hit two three-run homers and drove in a career-high eight runs, but Whit Merrifield led off the 11th inning with an RBI double in the Kansas City Royals’ 12-11 victor...

JUNE 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Salvador Perez - Exits Tuesday's game Perez was removed from Tuesday's game against the Angels after appearing to aggravate his left thumb injury, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.

Impact Perez appeared to aggravate the injury during the top of the third inning while fouling off four pitches amid a 10-pitch strikeout, and he was replaced behind the plate for the bottom of the frame. The 32-year-old spent time on the injured list with a sprained left thumb in May, and he's been unable to fully shake the injury since returning from the shelf.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

LEADING OFF: Harper healing, Ohtani on mound, Anderson 8-0

Philadelphia slugger Bryce Harper could return to the lineup Wednesday for the finale of a two-game series at Texas after an infected blister on his left index finger sidelined him...

JUNE 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nicky Lopez - Heads to bench Lopez will sit for the second time in three games Tuesday against the Angels.

Impact Lopez's .300 average and 22 steals last season put him on the fantasy map, but he hasn't looked like the same guy so far this year. He's hitting just .220, while his five steals put him on pace for a modest 12. Emmanuel Rivera will start at third base Tuesday against the left-handed Reid Detmers.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

RHP Abreu rejoins Yankees, claimed off waivers from Royals ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Relief pitcher Albert Abreu is back with the Yankees, two months after he was traded to Texas as part of the dea...

JUNE 21, 2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM

RHP Abreu rejoins Yankees, claimed off waivers from Royals

Relief pitcher Albert Abreu is back with the Yankees, two months after he was traded to Texas as part of the deal that brought catcher Jose Trevino to New York

JUNE 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Here's why KC Royals' pitching is getting better results — and whether it can last The Royals rotation has a 3.11 ERA over the past seven games. To know whether the improvement can last, we have to decipher why it’s happeni...

JUNE 21, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

KC Royals conversation about recent winning streak begins at 10 a.m. Solid pitching gives Kansas City Royals have a chance to post their first winning road trip of the season. How much should it change the tea...

JUNE 21, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Should recent winning change the way Kansas City Royals think about team, season? Join in our Kansas City Royals conversation starting at 10 a.m. on SportsBeat Live

JUNE 21, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Kris Bubic strikes out seven in Royals' win over Angels Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic struck out seven in six innings of a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on June 20, 2022....

JUNE 21, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Royals' Salvador Perez hits home run in win over Angels, Syndergaard Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 2 for 4 with a home run in a 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on June 20,...

JUNE 21, 2022 • KANSASCITY.COM

Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Angels play in game 2 of series

The Kansas City Royals bring a 1-0 lead into the next game of the series against the Los Angeles Angels

JUNE 21, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nicky Lopez - Posts steal Monday Lopez went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Lopez recorded his first steal since May 27 in this contest. He's hit safely in four of his last six games, going 6-for-19 (.316) in that span. The light-hitting 27-year-old has a .220/.288/.260 slash line with no home runs, six RBI, five stolen bases, 21 runs scored and eight doubles through 63 contests overall. He started at third base for the third time in six games, and it appears he'll take the strong side of a platoon with Emmanuel Rivera at the hot corner. Lopez also has experience at second base and shortstop, but Whit Merrifield and Bobby Witt have commanded starting roles at those positions.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Whit Merrifield - Registers ninth steal Merrifield went 1-for-5 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Merrifield had a 21-game span with no steals recently, but he's notched a pair of thefts in his last four games while going 5-for-17 (.294) in that span. The 33-year-old is now 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts this year. The renewed hitting is a welcome sight, though his season slash line remains at .229/.273/.310 with three home runs, 28 RBI, 32 runs scored and 13 doubles through 66 contests.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Salvador Perez - Goes deep in Monday's win Perez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Perez went 0-for-8 across his last two games, but he snapped that small skid Monday. His biggest hit was his eighth-inning two-run blast to give the Royals a three-run lead. The catcher has homered five times in 18 games in June while batting .257 (18-for-70). For the season, he's up to a .212/.252/.428 slash line with 11 long balls, 34 RBI, 25 runs scored and 13 doubles in 234 plate appearances.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hunter Dozier - Clubs seventh homer Dozier went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Dozier was caught stealing after getting aboard on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning. He tried again in the seventh with more success, then capped off his night with an eighth-inning solo shot for the final run of the game. He's hit safely in each of the last two games after snapping an 0-for-13 skid. Overall, the utility man has slashed .259/.325/.426 with seven homers, 22 RBI, 27 runs scored, two steals, 11 doubles and two triples through 59 contests this season.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Noah Syndergaard gets little help in Angels' loss to Royals The Angels' winning streak is snapped at three as the Angels were unable to support pitcher Noah Syndergaard in the 6-2 loss to the Kansas C...

JUNE 21, 2022 • LATIMES.COM

Andrew Benintendi - Fills stat sheet Monday Benintendi went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an additional run scored, a stolen base and a walk in Monday's 6-2 win over the Angels.

Impact Benintendi opened the scoring with a first-inning blast off Angels starter Noah Syndergaard. In the eighth, Benintendi added a single and his first stolen base of the season. Steals have been a noticeable absence on the outfielder's stat line this year -- this was his first attempt of the campaign after going 8-for-17 on the basepaths last season. The outfielder has made up for it with strong hitting, as he's maintained a .298/.363/.396 slash line with three homers, 25 RBI, 25 runs scored, 11 doubles and two triples through 65 contests.

JUNE 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE