The Kansas City Royals needed a bit of positive news. Injuries have ravaged the roster and a 10-game losing streak compounded matters.
The Royals knew the 2023 season would be a continuation of their rebuild. However, the development of young players has taken longer than expected. As a result, the Royals sit at 19-51 and are jostling with the Oakland Athletics for the worst record in baseball.
On Saturday, the Royals showed why their long-standing patience is a virtue. Fans were treated to a glimpse of the future: a team that won’t quit.
KC pulled off an improbable comeback win against the Los Angeles Angels. Samad Taylor hit a walk-off single to lift the Royals to a 10-9 victory.
“These guys are competing every night and every pitch,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They are proud of what they do and they are putting in a lot of work. To see it come out like that, in a game where they could’ve folded up, is really special.”
It’s important to put Saturday’s win in perspective.
The Royals had no business defeating the Angels. KC was down 8-2 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. The Angels were well on their way to winning the series and sending the Royals further down into MLB purgatory.
Then something clicked.
The Royals made the decision to fight back. It’s been their calling card all season despite losing at an alarming rate. KC got off the mat and knocked out the Angels in the late rounds. They did it together, and that was what made it special.
“It was a great team win from top to bottom,” Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said. “Everyone did their job and their part. It was fun.”
The Royals scored eight runs over the final three innings. Witt collected four RBIs during the stretch, including a two-run single to tie the game in the eighth.
In the ninth inning, Edward Olivares singled to start the frame. Pinch runner Dairon Blanco stole second and scored on a Maikel Garcia single. Two batters later, Taylor drove home Garcia in his MLB debut. It was his first career hit as his parents and sister celebrated in the stands.
The Royals had defied the odds. In a way, they showed that expectations don’t always cede to reality.
“It could definitely help us keep going,” Royals outfielder MJ Melendez said. “Build on that as a positive moment. Especially being down in the game early and being able to come back.”
The Royals won their first game since May 2 against a team with a winning record. They also went 6 for 10 with runners in scoring position. By comparison, the Royals were 10-for-69 in such situations over their last 10 games.
“It’s huge, definitely snapping that streak,” Witt said. “Now we got to start a new streak and get some wins going.”
The Royals have a chance to win the series on Sunday. Zack Greinke will start against Tyler Anderson and has been in these situations before. The Royals have substance to pair with their confidence.
“We’ve done this before where we have put some rallies together,” Quatraro said. “You start to feel it coming in the seventh there. It didn’t feel like it was over and it felt like we had a shot to climb back into it.”
Mission accomplished.
And now, the Royals can savor a big win for a change.