The Royals finally broke through at home Saturday, riding a monster performance from Vinnie Pasquantino to snap an 11-game losing streak at Kauffman Stadium with a 9-5 win over the Dodgers.
Pasquantino drove in five runs on two hits, including a three-run homer in the fifth that broke the game open.
What started as a showcase for Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound turned into the Pasquantino show pretty quickly. The 27-year-old first baseman put Kansas City ahead 6-0 with his 12th home run of the season, then doubled home two more runs in his next at-bat to cap a seven-run inning.
Bobby Witt Jr. and Jonathan India both scored on that double. Salvador Perez tacked on another RBI later in the frame to make it 9-1 after seven innings.
The Dodgers made things interesting with a four-run ninth, but Sam Long closed it out to secure Kansas City’s first home win since early June.
Seth Lugo earned the victory, improving to 5-5 after tossing 5.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. He’s been one of the few bright spots in what’s been a tough season for the Royals.
As for Ohtani, he lasted two innings in his third start since returning to pitching. The two-way star allowed one hit and struck out one while throwing 27 pitches. It’s progress from his first two outings, where he only managed one inning each time.
The win moves Kansas City to 39-44, still sitting fourth in the AL Central but at least ending that miserable home slide. The Dodgers drop to 52-32 but remain comfortably atop the NL West.
For the Royals, it’s about building momentum. They’ve struggled mightily at home this season, and getting Pasquantino going offensively could be exactly what they need moving forward.
