Maikel Garcia grounded a go-ahead, two-run single up the middle in the seventh inning as the host Kansas City Royals rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.
With the Royals trailing 2-0, Michael Massey led off the home half of the seventh with his third home run of the season. Milwaukee reliever Jared Koenig (2-1) hit a batter and walked another before exiting after retiring just one of the four hitters he faced, giving way to Elvis Peguero, the second of three Brewers hurlers in the frame.
Dairon Blanco reached on an infield single, loading the bases, and Garcia drove the first pitch he saw from Peguero to center, scoring two for a 3-2 Kansas City lead.
Nick Anderson (2-1) struck out two in a hitless seventh for the win.
Chris Stratton walked two in the ninth but induced a double-play grounder from Willy Adames en route to his second save of the year.
The Royals benefited from a controversial call in the top of the eighth, when Jackson Chourio was caught trying to steal third. The Brewers challenged the close play, but third base umpire Angel Hernandez’s call stood.
Kansas City’s late rally spoiled a strong outing from Milwaukee starter Bryse Wilson, who allowed just one hit in six scoreless frames. He struck out six, walked three and retired 12 straight hitters at one point as the Royals failed to advance a runner past second base in the first five innings.
With two outs in the fourth, Gary Sanchez blasted Kansas City starter Cole Ragans’ four-seam fastball 427 feet to left-center. The two-run shot was Sanchez’s fourth homer of the year.
Ragans allowed just two hits and two runs, all in the fourth inning. He walked two and struck out eight in six innings.
Milwaukee had three hits for the game. It has lost three straight and six of its past nine.
