Mets cool Royals’ bats, and 7-game winning streak
NEW YORK
The Kansas City Royals’ seven-game winning streak is over.
On Friday, the Royals fell 6-1 to the New York Mets at Citi Field. The Royals registered three hits and dropped to 9-5.
“They got some big two-out hits, which those are backbreaking at times,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Especially when they are two-strike, two-out hits . ... If you put up one run, it’s going to be tough to win.”
KC took an early lead in the second inning. Royals captain Salvador Perez hit a solo homer to put the team on the board.
But that quick strike was short lived.
The Mets scored six unanswered runs to earn their sixth victory. Brett Baty recorded two RBIs while Pete Alonso hit his fourth home run of the season in the eighth inning.
The Royals couldn’t solve Mets starter Luis Severino. He allowed one run in five innings. He also registered four strikeouts and four walks.
“He just kept us on the end of the bat,” Quatraro said. “We didn’t square a whole lot up. We had a couple of opportunities with the walks, when he lost the (strike) zone a little bit. But we just didn’t capitalize.”
SALVADOR PEREZ SPLASHES 3RD HOME RUN
Perez reacquainted himself with Citi Field on Friday. In the second inning, Perez hit his third home run of the season off Severino. He drilled a 93.9 mph fastball over the center-field wall to give the Royals a 1-0 lead.
It was Perez’s 249th career home run. The blast traveled 433 feet, which registered as his longest homer this season.
“I was just trying to do my job and hit the ball hard to put some runs on the board for our pitchers,” Perez said. “Today was a good game for the Mets.”
Perez furthered his success at Citi Field. In 2015, he hit .417 (5-for-12) with two RBIs during three World Series games.
The Royals defeated the Mets in five games en route to their second title. Perez was named World Series MVP for his performance.
MICHAEL WACHA FALTERS AGAINST METS
Wacha didn’t fare well against his former team.
He allowed five runs and 10 hits in six innings. The Mets overcame an early deficit to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning. New York collected four consecutive singles and was fueled by clutch twoout hitting.
“It was frustrating,” Wacha said. “I felt like I was close to getting out of those innings. I think they all (the runs) came on two outs. Those ones sting a little bit whenever you are one pitch away from getting out of the inning unscathed. You know, they ended up putting some runs on the board.”
Baty recorded a single to begin the threat. Moments later, Baty scored on Jeff McNeil’s RBI single. DJ Stewart also added an RBI single.
The Mets held a tworun advantage. In the fifth inning, Baty expanded the lead with a 2-run double that scored Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor.
“(I’ve) just got to make better quality pitches there, especially with two outs, to get the guys back in the dugout,” Wacha said.
Wacha threw 56 of 84 pitches for strikes. He registered four strikeouts and two walks.