SEATTLE (AP) — All Vinnie Pasquantino needed was a few days of rest, a heated massage pad and a warm, sunny day in Seattle to get back on track for the Kansas City Royals.
Pasquantino had two hits — including a solo homer — two RBIs and two runs in his return to Kansas City's lineup against the Seattle Mariners after sitting out the previous two games because of lower back tightness. He batted third and played first base in the Royal's 7-6 win.
His
single to right field drove in Kansas City’s opening run in the first inning. He then belted his fourth home run of the season in the sixth, a Statcast-projected 404-foot blast into the second deck in right. It gave the Royals a 5-3 lead before Jac Caglianone followed with a solo home run to right.
Pasquantino said it has been an issue he has dealt with for a while after he was removed in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game. He also appeared in the ninth inning and hit a game-ending flyout in Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Athletics.
“We hope that he’s not going to have to deal with it the whole season,” manager Matt Quatraro said before Friday’s game. “But he’ll probably feel it for a handful of days before it resolves.”
He didn't feel it Friday.
Pasquantino, 28, is off to a slow start this season for Kansas City, batting .178 with three doubles, 16 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 30 games.
___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
