Kyle Isbel ended Kansas City’s 27-inning scoreless streak by racing home on a throwing error in the 10th inning, while Cole Ragans allowed three hits in six innings.
The Royals secured a 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, keeping their hold on the second American League wild card spot.
Isbel, who started as the automatic runner in the 10th, advanced to third on an infield single by Bobby Witt Jr. and scored when Nasim Nuñez made a low throw to first base, ending the Royals’ seven-game losing streak.
“It’s a little bit of a sigh of relief,” Ragans said. “We knew it’s going to come down to probably a game like this to get us back on track.”
Kansas City and Detroit both have records of 83-74, but the Royals have the tiebreaker advantage. Both teams are two games ahead of Minnesota.
After three games without a hit with a runner in scoring position, the Royals went 2 for 11 in those situations on Tuesday, although they didn’t score.
“There’s definitely frustration, but I think tonight it was more like, disbelief,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “We know we’re too good a team to have that continue for a long period of time.”
Kyle Finnegan (3-7) got through the 10th inning without further issues, but the Nationals lost for the seventh time in eight games.
“Our defense was good until that one play,” said Nats manager Dave Martinez. “It really came down to one play, and execution, and not being able to hit the ball.”
Lucas Erceg pitched a clean 10th for his 12th save and ninth with the Royals, striking out Joey Gallo for the final out after Gallo hit a 3-2 pitch just foul near the right-field pole.
“You can never count your chickens there that you’re going to strand the runner,” Quatraro said about Erceg, who Kansas City acquired in a trade from Oakland this season. “But you certainly like your chances.”
