In a high-scoring contest from Tuesday night, the Kansas City Royals triumphed over the Detroit Tigers with an 11-10 victory. Dairon Blanco stole the spotlight for the Royals, putting up an impressive performance with a triple, two doubles, a single, and three RBIs. This outstanding performance marked Blanco’s best day ever in baseball.
Blanco’s contributions were crucial in various innings, as he tripled and scored to help the Royals tie the game at 2 in the third inning. He followed it up with a run-scoring bunt hit in the fourth, contributing to a five-run surge. His doubles in the sixth and eighth innings added to the Royals’ offensive display.
Manager Matt Quatraro praised Blanco’s performance, emphasizing the importance of each of his hits. Blanco, who admitted he was going for a home run to complete the cycle in his final at-bat, settled for an RBI double, narrowly missing his first career homer.
The Royals showcased their tenacity, capitalizing on opportunities to build a 7-2 lead with seven consecutive players safely reaching base in the fourth inning. The Tigers fought back, with Spencer Torkelson hitting two home runs and a double, resulting in a career-high five RBIs and 10 total bases.
Kansas City’s pitcher, Daniel Lynch, secured the win, completing five innings while allowing five runs. Although he was not entirely satisfied with his performance, the Royals’ offensive prowess ensured the victory.
In the ninth inning, Detroit attempted a comeback, scoring four runs, but the Royals’ Scott Barlow managed to retire Riley Greene on a fly ball with two Tigers on base, securing the narrow victory.
Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, making his third start of the season after recovering from left elbow surgery, had a challenging outing, allowing seven runs over four innings.
The game showcased the talents of both teams, with hitters like Javier Báez making significant contributions for the Tigers. Kansas City’s Maikel Garcia drove in four runs, adding to the team’s offensive firepower.
In the post-game transactions, the Royals activated OF Edward Olivares from the 10-day IL, while 2B/OF Samad Taylor was optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
Next up, the Tigers’ LHP Eduardo Rodriguez is set to face the Royals’ LHP Ryan Yarbrough on Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, Nolan Arenado’s clutch performance lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-2 victory over the struggling Miami Marlins. Arenado’s three-run homer in the 10th inning off A.J. Puk secured the win for the Cardinals. It was his first game-ending home run since August 14, 2019, and the fourth of his career.
Arenado’s impressive form continued, as he is hitting .333 with two homers in his last five games. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised Arenado’s dominance at the plate and expressed confidence when having him up in crucial moments.
Pitcher JoJo Romero pitched a perfect 10th inning for the Cardinals, contributing to their four-game winning streak.
On the other hand, the Marlins have struggled, losing five consecutive games, matching their season high from May. Despite their slump, Marlins manager Skip Schumaker attributes the results to the natural ebb and flow of the season and does not see it as a mental issue for the team.
Cardinals starter Jordan Montgomery made a solid comeback, throwing 92 pitches and allowing one run and six hits over five innings. Marlins starter Edward Cabrera returned from the 15-day injured list and delivered a strong performance, limiting the Cardinals to one run on two hits in five-plus innings.
Jon Berti stood out for the Marlins with three hits and two runs scored. Cabrera did not allow a hit through the first four innings, and his only hard-hit ball came in the sixth inning on Brendan Donovan’s 388-foot homer.
The game was a well-fought contest, with both teams displaying excellent defensive plays and offensive contributions.
Upcoming, the Marlins will send RHP Sandy Alcantara to the mound for the series finale against the Cardinals and Dakota Hudson. Alcantara, who holds a career 1.24 ERA in five starts against his former team, will be up against Hudson, who will make his first start of the season, turning the game into a bullpen game for the Cardinals.
The MLB scoreboard for Tuesday, July 18, 2023:
Los Angeles Dodgers 10, Baltimore Orioles 3
Cleveland Guardians 10, Pittsburgh Pirates 1
San Diego Padres 9, Toronto Blue Jays 1
New York Mets 11, Chicago White Sox 10
Colorado Rockies 4, Houston Astros 3
Texas Rangers 5, Tampa Bay Rays 3
Kansas City Royals 11, Detroit Tigers 10
Los Angeles Angels 5, New York Yankees 1
Oakland Athletics 3, Boston Red Sox 0
Minnesota Twins 10, Seattle Mariners 3
San Francisco Giants 4, Cincinnati Reds 2 (10) (Game 1)
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Milwaukee Brewers 3
San Francisco Giants 11, Cincinnati Reds 10 (Game 2)
Arizona Diamondbacks 16, Atlanta Braves 13
St. Louis Cardinals 5, Miami Marlins 2 (10)
Chicago Cubs 17, Washington Nationals 3
