KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Royals reliever Austin Cox made his first major-league start Wednesday night. And things look good for a while.
But after two scoreless innings, Cox ran into trouble against the Cleveland Guardians.
In the third, Jose Ramirez hit his fifth career grand slam into the Guardians’ bullpen at Kauffman Stadium. Cleveland slugged three homers in all en route to a 14-1 victory.
Cox allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. He walked four batters in the third, including Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario consecutively, setting the stage for Ramirez. Cox threw 39 of 68 pitches for strikes.
And the Guardians weren’t done there. The Royals allowed 14 unanswered runs until Freddy Fermin singled in KC’s only run in the seventh inning. Fermin’s base hit scored Drew Waters, who doubled to begin the frame.
The Royals recorded just five hits all night. Waters went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Royals batters struck out 11 times in the game.
The Royals dropped to 22-58 this season and will look to salvage a win in the series finale Thursday afternoon.
Here are more notables from Wednesday’s game:
Nicky Lopez exits with hand injury
Royals infielder Nicky Lopez exited Wednesday’s game with a right-hand contusion. He is day-to-day.
Lopez was hit by a pitch in the third inning. He was struck by a 92.3 mph fastball by Guardians starter Logan Allen.
The Royals’ training staff immediately attended to Lopez on the field. He stayed in the game to finish the third inning on the base paths.
But Lopez was replaced prior to the fourth inning. Samad Taylor shifted from left field to second base. Meanwhile, Dairon Blanco entered the game as a defensive replacement. Blanco batted ninth in the lineup.
James McArthur hit hard in MLB debut
Royals reliever James McArthur made his first MLB appearance against the Guardians. And it was a difficult outing for the talented prospect.
McArthur allowed seven runs in the sixth inning, the Guardians tagging him for six extra-base hits. The major blow was Bo Naylor’s two-run homer — Naylor’s first home run in his 13th career game.
The Royals recalled McArthur from Triple-A Omaha on Saturday. He was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on May 8.
What’s next: The Royals will finish their three-game series against the Guardians Thursday. Zack Greinke will start the afternoon game against Cleveland’s Shane Bieber at Kauffman Stadium.
