MIAMI — Alcides Escobar homered and hit the go-ahead double in the sixth inning to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night at Marlins Park.
The Royals (66-61) have won 10 of their past 11 games and have also claimed their sixth straight series win. Miami (66-61) lost two out of three games in this series.
The game featured six errors — three by each team — but also two spectacular defensive plays by the Royals in the first inning.
Royals second baseman Raul Mondesi ranged far to his right to throw out fleet leadoff batter Dee Gordon at first on a backhand play. The inning ended when center fielder Jarrod Dyson robbed Christian Yelich of a home run, leaping to grab the ball on a full sprint in what has to be considered one of the best catches of the year.
Mondesi was also stellar in the ninth inning. With the Royals leading 4-2, he drew a leadoff walk, stole second, swiped third and scored when catcher J.T.Realmuto’s throw sailed into left field for an error.
Edinson Volquez (10-10) picked up the win, allowing two runs, none earned, in five innings. He had suffered through a 7.16 ERA in his past five starts.
Tom Koehler (9-9) took the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, in six innings. He cooled off after posting a 1.62 ERA in his past six starts.
The Royals bullpen ran their franchise record of consecutive scoreless innings to 38 2/3. Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.
Herrera, filling in for injured closer Wade Davis, has retired 20 straight batters dating to Aug. 10. Herrera closed the game by striking out Marcell Ozuna, who was caught looking at a 3-2 pitch.
Kansas City opened the scoring in the third inning in a rally that started with Cheslor Cuthbert’s one-out double. With two outs, Miami intentionally walked clean-up batter Eric Hosmer. Salvador Perez wrecked that strategy, cracking an RBI double that hit off the chalk down the left-field line.
The Royals increased their lead to 2-0 when Alcides Escobar led off the fourth with a home run to left-center. Escobar hit a 91-mph fastball from Koehler, sending a high drive that resulted in his third homer of the season.
Miami tied the score 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. After Marcell Ozuna singled and J.T. Realmuto was hit by a pitch, both runners moved up a base on a groundout by Ichiro Suzuki. With two outs, the Royals nearly got out of the jam when Cuthberth made a diving stop at third, but his wild throw to first allowed both runners to score.
NOTES: Royals RHP Wade Davis pitched one scoreless rehab inning in the Arizona Rookie League. Davis had 21 saves in 23 chances before going on the disabled list July 27 with a right flexor injury. … Kansas City LHP Mike Minor has been shut down at Triple-A Omaha after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder. … Royals RHP Kris Medlen, out since May 11 (rotator cuff tendinitis), allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings in a rehab outing at Omaha. … Marlins OF Jeff Francoeur joined the team after being acquired from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team deal Wednesday. Miami made room by designating OF Oswaldo Arcia for assignment. … Miami sent minor league C Matt Foley to Atlanta. … The Royals start a three-game series in Boston against the Red Sox on Friday. … Miami hosts San Diego on Friday as the Padres start former Marlins RHP Jarred Cosart.
