Bobby Witt Jr. narrowly missed hitting for the cycle, with Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe also homering, as the Kansas City Royals secured a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, marking their fourth consecutive win.
Witt started strong with a triple in the first inning, followed by a double in the third, and capped it off with a three-run homer deep into left-center field in the fourth inning.
“His power and composure at the plate are remarkable. He’s playing at a different level,” commented Royals manager Matt Quatraro.
The crowd cheered loudly with chants of “Bobby! Bobby!” as Witt stepped up to bat in the sixth inning, hoping for a single that would complete the cycle—a feat no Kansas City player has achieved in 34 years. However, Arizona pitcher Humberto Castellanos hit Witt with the first pitch, drawing boos from the crowd.
“It’s unfortunate that he got hit. I’m not sure about the intent behind it,” said Quatraro.
Witt had another opportunity in the eighth inning but was retired on a fly ball to right field. The last Royals player to hit for the cycle was Hall of Famer George Brett in Toronto on July 25, 1990.
“I really wanted to do it for the fans. The fans here are amazing,” Witt remarked. “I fell short at the end, but that’s how it goes.”
Earlier in the day, Witt was named American League Player of the Week. Since participating in his first All-Star Game and finishing as the Home Run Derby runner-up, he has gone 12 for 15, raising his batting average to .341.
Witt’s performance included his fourth consecutive three-hit game, matching Johnny Damon’s second-best streak in franchise history in 2000, with George Brett holding the record with six games in 1976.
In the aftermath of Witt being hit by a pitch, Royals reliever John Schreiber also hit Gabriel Moreno in the next inning. This led to both benches being warned, and Arizona manager Torey Lovullo being ejected after arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker and needing to be restrained.
During the ensuing confrontation near the plate, Royals catcher Perez appeared to exchange words with Lovullo.
“I never spoke to Salvador Perez,” Lovullo stated. “I just wanted him to hear what I was going to say to Jordan. I told him, ‘If you think I would ask my team to hit one of the best players in the game, the future of Major League Baseball, you’re mistaken.
You mishandled this situation and got it wrong.’ I wanted Salvy to hear that and relay it to their dugout.” The Royals (56-45), currently in a wild-card playoff spot, matched their win total from last season.
Cole Ragans (7-6) overcame a rough third inning to earn his second consecutive win and his eighth quality start in nine outings. He gave up six hits, two walks, and three runs in six innings.
Arizona took a 3-1 lead in the third on back-to-back doubles by Kevin Newman and Alek Thomas, followed by Ketel Marte’s 20th home run, a two-run shot to left.
The Royals responded in the bottom of the third with Witt’s double, Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI single, and Perez’s two-run homer to center, giving them a 4-3 lead. Witt’s three-run homer off reliever Miguel Castro in the fourth extended their lead to 8-3.
“Castro is a tough right-hander,” Quatraro noted. “You don’t expect him to hit a homer on that first pitch, but maybe now you start expecting it. What he’s doing right now is incredible. Absolutely incredible.”
Hunter Renfroe homered in the sixth, Kyle Isbel contributed three hits and two RBIs, and Pasquantino had three hits for the Royals.
Yilber Diaz, who allowed only one run in six innings in each of his first two major league starts, struggled, giving up seven runs and nine hits in three-plus innings. “He couldn’t locate his secondary pitches and became too predictable with his fastball,” Lovullo remarked.
