Jeff McNeil gave the Athletics an immediate jolt Monday night. The lead disappeared almost as quickly.
McNeil homered on the first pitch of the game, but Kansas City scored six runs in the first three innings. The Royals went on to beat the A’s 9-5 at Kauffman Stadium.
The Athletics briefly made it interesting with three runs in the fifth. However, Kansas City answered with three more over the final three innings and dropped the A’s to 49-76.
Barnett buried early
Mason Barnett never settled in after being handed a 1-0 lead.
Bobby Witt Jr. walked in the first before Jac Caglianone and Maikel Garcia singled. Then Salvador Perez drove home two more with a two-out single, putting Kansas City ahead 3-1.
The Royals kept coming in the second. Kyle Isbel walked, advanced on a wild pitch and scored when Witt launched a two-run homer to left-center.
Then Kansas City added another run in the third. Michael Massey singled, Isaac Collins walked and Isbel drove in Massey with two outs.
At that point, the A’s trailed 6-1.
Barnett was removed after 2 2/3 innings. He allowed seven hits and six earned runs while walking four and striking out two.
His record fell to 1-4, while his ERA climbed to 7.08.
Hayden Juenger stopped the early damage with 2 1/3 hitless innings. However, the Athletics had already been forced into chase mode.
A fifth-inning response
The A’s finally answered against Michael Wacha in the fifth.
Tommy White opened the inning by driving a solo homer 401 feet to left-center. It was his second major league home run after hitting his first Sunday against Texas.
Donovan Walton followed with a double. Then Brian Serven hit a two-run homer to left, cutting Kansas City’s lead to 6-4.
Suddenly, a game that had looked headed toward a blowout was within reach.
But the momentum did not last.
Carlos Cortes grounded into his second double play of the night in the sixth. Meanwhile, Kansas City restored a three-run advantage in the bottom half when Witt singled, stole second and scored on Caglianone’s RBI single.
Royals pull away late
Kansas City put the game away against Seth Johnson in the eighth.
Carter Jensen doubled with one out before Witt doubled him home. Caglianone followed with another RBI single, extending the lead to 9-4.
Witt finished 3-for-4 with a homer, double, three RBIs and four runs scored. Caglianone also had three hits and drove in two.
The Athletics managed one final push in the ninth.
Cortes singled, White walked and Walton walked to load the bases with nobody out. However, Jonah Heim grounded into a double play, scoring Cortes while removing two runners.
Then Serven grounded out to end it.
Numbers that mattered
McNeil’s sixth homer gave the A’s an early lead, while White and Serven supplied the fifth-inning power.
Still, the Athletics finished 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and grounded into three double plays.
Scott Blewett allowed one run over two innings after Juenger’s scoreless work. Johnson was charged with two runs in the eighth.
Kansas City, meanwhile, went 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position and finished with 13 hits.
Up next
The Athletics continue the series Tuesday in Kansas City.
Jack Perkins is scheduled to start for the A’s. He enters at 2-9 with a 7.27 ERA and 94 strikeouts.
Kansas City had not announced its starter.
First pitch is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. PT.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
