Luis Garcia matched a franchise record with six hits as the Washington Nationals outlasted the host Kansas City Royals 12-10 on Friday evening.
Garcia doubled twice in the sixth inning as Washington sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring eight for their biggest inning of the season. He tied the single-game hit total of Anthony Rendon (April 30, 2017, for the Nationals) and Rondell White (June 11, 1995, for the Montreal Expos).
Washington’s Joey Meneses knocked in three runs on two hits in the sixth, and he finished 3-for-5. Corey Dickerson also homered in that frame, and teammate Lane Thomas led off the game with a long ball.
Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice and went 4-for-5 with five RBIs for Kansas City. Salvador Perez added two hits and three RBIs.
The Nationals trailed 2-1 before Garcia and Meneses opened the explosive sixth inning with back-to-back doubles to tie the score.
After Jeimer Candelario walked, Dickerson delivered his second home run of the year — a three-run shot — into the right field bullpen.
Later in the frame, Garcia hit a two-run double and Meneses added a two-run single for a 9-2 lead.
Witt responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. Witt socked his ninth homer, and second of the game, to highlight a five-run seventh inning pulled within 9-8.
Meneses collected his third hit ahead of Candelario’s two-run triple, helping Washington add three eighth-inning insurance runs.
Witt matched a career high with four hits, and his career-best fifth RBI capped Kansas City’s scoring during a two-run eighth.
Chad Kuhl recorded five outs for his first career save.
Thomas led off the game against Jordan Lyles (0-9) with his eighth homer, a 421-foot shot over the left field bullpen.
Lyles allowed five runs on six hits and three walks over five-plus innings. He has surrendered 16 home runs, the highest total in the majors.
Patrick Corbin (4-5) won his third straight start, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings.
Washington has won four of its past six games. Kansas City has lost 10 of 13.
–Field Level Media
