The power bat of star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was missing in action for the first 27 games of the Kansas City Royals’ season.
But suddenly, Witt has homered in back-to-back games, and he’ll look to continue the streak Wednesday night when the Royals visit the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Witt delivered a tie-breaking, three-run blast in the top of the 10th inning as the Royals beat the A’s 4-1 in Tuesday’s opener of the three-game series.
He went the opposite way, and the blast barely cleared the short wall in right center to help Kansas City win its season-best fourth straight game.
“Just trying to piece it at-bat by at-bat and day-by-day and just trying to enjoy every moment that we can,” Witt said. “We’re going out there playing the game we love.”
Things are certainly more enjoyable now with the Royals having won five of six games following an eight-game slide.
Plus, Witt showing signs of putting his power slump behind him is a pleasing element. The 25-year-old hit 105 homers over his first four seasons, twice hitting 30 or more.
“He’s going to hit homers. We know that,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of the two-time All-Star, who has two home runs, 15 RBIs and a .289 batting average this season. “Just putting good swings on the ball more frequently is going to lead to that. He’s got unbelievable ability all around.”
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez also homered for the second time in three games. He nearly had two home runs in the contest, but his other shot was a liner that wasn’t high enough to clear the wall. He was held to a single on that bid.
Shea Langeliers had three hits and Jacob Wilson had an RBI single on a frustrating night for the A’s, who left 14 runners on base.
“We’re not getting that hit we need to extend leads and have some margin for error,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “Tough loss. … We played a really good game except for offense. We just couldn’t get a hit.”
Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom injured his right shoulder and was a little woozy after he missed on a diving catch in the fifth. He was replaced prior to the top of the sixth.
“There’s not signs of a concussion right now,” Kotsay said, “but obviously that dive, if you watch it, he slammed down pretty hard, fully extended.”
Kansas City outfielder Jonathan India (shoulder) underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday, while first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (lower back tightness) exited in the sixth inning. The latter was hurt while grounding out.
Kansas City is scheduled to send Michael Wacha (2-1, 2.51 ERA) to the mound against the Athletics’ Luis Severino (1-2, 5.17) on Wednesday in a battle of right-handers.
Wacha lost last Wednesday in his most recent start, when he allowed season worsts of six runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-6 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles.
Wacha, 34, is 1-1 with a 3.31 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics.
Severino picked up his first victory of the season on Friday when he limited the Texas Rangers to one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-1 win.
Severino continues to struggle at Sutter Health Park and is 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in two starts there this season. Overall, he is 2-10 with a 6.15 ERA in 17 starts at the ballpark since joining the A’s prior to the 2025 campaign.
Severino, 32, is 5-1 with a 3.67 ERA in seven career starts against Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
