Royals 4, Pirates 3: Keller gives up late lead, streak's at five
The Pirates' losing streak extended to five tonight at Kaufmann Stadium, as the Royals recorded three hits in the ninth inning, including Nick Loftin's walk-off winner, to beat the Pirates, 4-3, for their 21st one-run loss of the season.
Loftin and Jac Caglianone both homered on pitches that Mitch Keller left in the middle of the plate. Caglianone hit a hanging changeup in the second and Loftin poked a first-pitch slider into the left-field corner seats in the seventh to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.
"Unfortunate timing for both, but mainly the hanging slider," said Keller, who threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed four hits. "If I could have two pitches back, those would be the two, for sure."
Bryan Reynolds delivered a fielder's choice RBI in the eighth, with the bases loaded, to tie the game at 3-3, but that was where the offense halted. Oneil Cruz provided a preview of what could be expected from him in the upcoming Home Run Derby as he hit a 458-foot home run in the fourth. Nick Gonzales hit one to dead center in the seventh to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
• Lost five in a row • 12-34 away from PNC Park • 26-29 under Kelly
► THE NUMBER
16: Consecutive hitters Keller retired, tying a career-high, before Salvador Perez reached on a catcher's interference.
► THE NEXT THREE
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
3:02 am - 07.08.2025Kansas City, Mo.Royals 4, Pirates 3: Keller gives up late lead, streak's at five
The Pirates' losing streak extended to five tonight at Kaufmann Stadium, as the Royals recorded three hits in the ninth inning, including Nick Loftin's walk-off winner, to beat the Pirates, 4-3, for their 21st one-run loss of the season.
Loftin and Jac Caglianone both homered on pitches that Mitch Keller left in the middle of the plate. Caglianone hit a hanging changeup in the second and Loftin poked a first-pitch slider into the left-field corner seats in the seventh to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.
"Unfortunate timing for both, but mainly the hanging slider," said Keller, who threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed four hits. "If I could have two pitches back, those would be the two, for sure."
Bryan Reynolds delivered a fielder's choice RBI in the eighth, with the bases loaded, to tie the game at 3-3, but that was where the offense halted. Oneil Cruz provided a preview of what could be expected from him in the upcoming Home Run Derby as he hit a 458-foot home run in the fourth. Nick Gonzales hit one to dead center in the seventh to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
► THE COVERAGE
From our staff on the scene:
• Postgame: Cruz hits No. 16
• Postgame: Davis' call
• News: Cruz excited for Derby
• News: Suwinski recalled
• Live Qs: Greg's answers
• Minors: Tejada's sixth shutout
► THE HIGHLIGHTS
► MORE POSTGAME VIDEO
• Manager: Kelly's press conference
• Players: Inside the clubhouse
► THE BOXSCORE
► MORE GAME DATA
• Hitter breakdowns
• Pitcher breakdowns
• Updated statistics
• Season schedule
► THE STANDINGS
► THE TRENDS
• Lost five in a row
• 12-34 away from PNC Park
• 26-29 under Kelly
► THE NUMBER
16: Consecutive hitters Keller retired, tying a career-high, before Salvador Perez reached on a catcher's interference.
► THE NEXT THREE
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