The Kansas City Royals hit their way into a second straight winning season, dominating the Athletics 9-2, to close out the 2025 campaign with an 82-80 record
The Royals scratched their first run across
in the second inning. Carter Jensen led off the inning with a single, he advanced to second on an Adam Frazier groundout. Michael Massey singled, making it 1st and 3rd with one out. John Rave walked, before Maikel Garcia would hit an RBI sacrifice fly.
Chaos ensued after a leadoff single in the top of the 4th, Massey, who was up next, singled again into right field and the ball would go under the glove of JJ Bleday, scoring Frazier from first. Garcia would single in Massey to make it 3-0. Massey singled in another run in the top of the 5th to put KC up 4-0.
Cole Ragans looked good again, still on a pitch count, but also still striking out a bunch of hitters. He threw just 72 pitches, but got through 4.1 innings, allowing two hits, one walk, while striking out eight.
Steven Cruz would struggle allowing a pair of singles to load the bases with one out but got a critical strikeout. Daniel Lynch IV came in and strike out Nick Kurtz to end the threat in the 5th.
The Royals started off the 7th inning with back-to-back solo homers from Mike Yastrzemski and Carter Jensen. It was the 16th on the year for Yastrzemski. Jensen’s home run went 482!! feet, the longest home run by a Royal in the Statcast era. It was Jensen’s 3rd homer.
Bobby Witt Jr. would hit a two run double later in the inning, his MLB leading 47th on the season, and his 183rd hit as well, also to lead the MLB.
Yastrzemski would hit another solo home run in the 8th, his 17th for the season, to put the Royals up 9-0. Lynch IV would be the winning pitcher of record, he went 2.1 innings, not allowing a baserunner and striking out three. Sam Long surrendered a two-run homer in his inning of work, and Luinder Avila threw a scoreless 9th to lock down the win.
Jensen had a three-hit day, Massey had a four-hit day. It was a positive sign heading into next season, and momentum that the Royals can hopefully carry over.
Thank you to all the faithful readers and commenters for riding with us all season. Hopefully next season, playoff ball will return to Kansas City.
