Michael Massey lined a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth before Nick Loftin tacked on with a two-run homer, helping the visiting Kansas City Royals earn a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
Vinnie Pasquantino also homered for the Royals, while Stephen Kolek threw seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking two for Kansas City, which clinched its first road series win since sweeping the Seattle Mariners from May 1-3.
After being scratched from his start on Monday with an illness, Chase Burns threw six innings of two-run, four-hit ball, striking out nine and walking one for the Reds, who dropped their fifth game in seven tries.
In the top of the ninth, Tony Santillan (1-3) allowed Jac Caglianone’s leadoff single, before Isaac Collins’ sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second. Massey then hit a single to right, driving in the go-ahead run.
Loftin followed with his first home run of the year to extend the Royals’ lead to 5-2. After walking Lane Thomas, Santillan was relieved by Zach McCambley, who loaded the bases before striking out Salvador Perez to end the frame.
Alex Lange allowed Spencer Steer’s leadoff double and Noelvi Marte’s two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth, but retired Blake Dunn to secure Kansas City’s win and his first save of the season.
After Bobby Witt Jr. worked a one-out walk in the first, Pasquantino hit his sixth homer of the season to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.
The Reds threatened in the third, as Tyler Stephenson’s leadoff walk and Dunn’s one-out single placed runners on the corners. Kolek escaped the jam, though, striking out JJ Bleday and Sal Stewart to end the inning.
Matt McLain laced a two-out single in the fifth, before Dunn connected on his second homer of the year to tie the score at two apiece.
Caleb Ferguson threw a perfect 1 1/3 innings in relief of Burns.
Daniel Lynch IV (2-0) threw the eighth for Kansas City, allowing Dane Myers’ two-out double before getting Eugenio Suarez to ground out, preserving the 2-2 tie.
