Royals Unleash Offensive Barrage to Take Doubleheader Opener from Rockies
The Kansas City Royals took Game One of Thursday’s doubleheader with a strong 7–4 win over the Colorado Rockies at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals’ offense finally broke through, producing 13 hits to snap a brief slump and build momentum early in the day. Salvador Perez set the tone in the bottom of the first with a two-run double, giving the Royals a quick 2–1 lead after Colorado had struck first. Kyle Isbel played a key role as well, driving in three runs with a pair of clutch singles, including a soft infield hit in the fifth inning that pushed Kansas City ahead 6–4.
Bobby Witt Jr. stayed hot at the plate, extending his hitting streak with a double in the sixth and contributing on both sides of the ball. Cole Ragans got the start and battled through five innings to earn the win, giving up four runs but keeping his team in it long enough for the offense to respond. The Royals’ bullpen was solid from there, with John Schreiber and James McArthur closing things down with four scoreless innings to secure the victory. Defensively, the Royals looked sharp, highlighted by a crisp double play from Witt Jr. in the eighth inning that helped squash a potential Rockies rally.
For Colorado, it was another disappointing result in a season already slipping away. Despite some early fireworks, Hunter Goodman drove in a run in the first and hit a two-run homer in the third, while Jordan Beck launched a solo shot in the second, the Rockies’ bats went quiet after the third inning. Starting pitcher Germán Márquez struggled with command and lasted just four innings, giving up four runs. Meanwhile, reliever Jake Bird allowed the go-ahead runs in the fifth and took the loss.
The win improved Kansas City’s record to 11–14, while Colorado dropped to a league-worst 4–19. Game One of the doubleheader offered the Rockies a chance to bounce back, but with the way Kansas City was swinging the bats, it was clear they weren’t going down without a fight. There is still more to look forward to, with upcoming games between these teams. Hopefully, the Rockies can fight to find some momentum to pull out with a win.
