KANSAS CITY -- The 108.9 mph laser of a single that
Late-game mayhem has been the Royals’ recipe for success these past two nights following Tuesday’s walk-off win and Wednesday’s comeback victory, with Kansas City making quick work of a struggling A’s bullpen. The Royals have now won four consecutive games, including three against the A’s this week to set up a potential four-game sweep on Thursday.
“We’re going to try to get it done earlier from now on, but it’s always nice when you get a couple late wins like that,” said outfielder
On Wednesday, Pasquantino was right in the middle of it all with a walk, a homer and two singles. His Statcast-projected 427-foot home run in the sixth inning cut into the Royals’ deficit and was also his 500th career hit, which made him the 39th player to reach that mark with the Royals.\n\n“Even numbers like that are always cool,” Pasquantino said. “I think I’ve played in more than 500 games \\[Wednesday was No. 506\\], so it’s a little disappointing in a weird way. Want to be better than that, want to post more.\n\n“... Just want to keep going and try to stack on as many hits as possible and just keep trying to have good at-bats and doing what I do.”\n\nInjuries have nagged Pasquantino throughout his career, and this year was no different, as he fractured his right hamate bone on June 13. He came back less than a month later, an aggressive return that he was determined to make because he felt like he owed it to his teammates and coaches. But he can admit that he didn’t feel 100% when he returned right before the All-Star break, and the fatigue from that injury sidelined him again at the end of July.
Pasquantino returned from the IL on Monday, and he’s looked and felt more like himself. He’s 6-for-12 in his three games back, and his home run on Wednesday night was his first since June 3 at Cincinnati, snapping a streak of 85 homerless at-bats. It was also his first homer at Kauffman Stadium since May 7 against Cleveland.\n\n“It feels nice to be about as close to \\[100%\\] as you can possibly be,” Pasquantino said. “There’s definitely a bigger stress relief on the at-bats, knowing I don’t have to put more effort into it than I need to, if that makes sense. It’s less mental energy because it’s less physical energy, because I’m not putting so much stock into making sure it’s ready to go. I know it’s ready to go.”\n\nAnd there’s no question that when Pasquantino is contributing, the Royals’ lineup looks a lot more like what it’s supposed to and what they imagined it being entering 2026. They’re more balanced, dynamic and challenging for opposing pitchers, Wednesday’s eighth inning showcased that.\n\n