Royals Win Game in Electric Fashion With Very Rare Walk-Off Bunt

Entering the bottom of the ninth in their game against the Mariners Monday night, the Royals had already weathered a strange series opener.

Kansas City got 6 2/3 no-hit innings from pitcher Brady Singer, his third career no-hit bid of five innings or more, only to watch Seattle explode for six runs in the eighth and ninth. Meanwhile, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. hit a controversial inside-the-park home run—his 22nd homer of the season.

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Those quirks, however, were nothing compared to the game’s ending. With Kansas City trailing 6–5, Witt Jr. and second baseman Michael Massey hit back-to-back singles. Catcher Salvador Pérez brought Witt Jr. home with the tying sacrifice fly, bringing up left fielder Dairon Blanco.

Blanco squared to bunt, and the rest was history.

Bunt walk-off in Kansas City‼️

🎥: @BallySportsKC pic.twitter.com/niCDj403fS

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) August 15, 2023

The near-perfect hit sent pinch runner Samad Taylor flying home with the winning run, giving the Royals a 7–6 victory.

There hasn’t been much to smile about in 2023 for Kansas City—the Royals improved to just 39–81 with the win—but one seemingly can’t accuse the franchise of straying too far from its small-ball identity.