The Kansas City Royals found themselves in a tough spot after being down 7-0 in the first inning and 8-0 by the fourth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners. However, they managed to mount an incredible comeback and secured a thrilling 10-9 victory on Friday night. The win improved their record to 38-26, placing them just three games behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians.
The Mariners got off to a hot start in the first inning, taking advantage of Royals’ pitcher Daniel Lynch IV’s struggles. Despite Lynch’s efforts, the Mariners managed to score multiple runs, building a comfortable lead early in the game. However, the Royals fought back and slowly chipped away at the deficit, scoring runs in the fourth and sixth innings to make it a close game.
In the ninth inning, the Royals staged a dramatic rally, with Nick Loftin and Garrett Hampson reaching base to set the stage for MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. Witt came through with a triple that tied the game, setting up a tense final few moments. The Mariners intentionally walked the next two batters, hoping to force extras, but Nelson Velázquez’s double-play ball to shortstop J.P. Crawford gave the Royals the winning run.
The victory was a significant milestone for the Royals, marking only the fifth time in the past 50 seasons that a team has won a game after being down 7-0 or worse in the first inning. The win was a result of the team’s determination and grit, with Witt’s heroics and the team’s resilience shining through in the most crucial moments of the game. Celebrating their hard-fought win, Witt was showered with a well-deserved Gatorade bath to mark the memorable victory.