Well, that was awesome! Despite what has been a truly awful 2026 season for the Kansas City Royals, the belief amongst many fans and certainly the ballclub has never wavered. And that was shown in droves in last night's 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.
The game was a rollercoaster ride of emotions in what was, through four innings, a mostly flawless pitching and defensive performance by Seth Lugo and his teammates behind him. Lane Thomas blasted his eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the second to put KC up 1-0, and it stayed that way until the top of the fifth when things went haywire.
With runners on second and third and one out, what should have been an, albeit difficult, but pro-level scoop up on a three-hop infield hit ball for Michael Massey and an easy out, scraped off his glove, and sent both runners home. It was ruled a fielding error by Massey, putting the Royals in a 2-1 hole. Who knew that would be the beginning of the ensuing madness that followed?
Royals win first game out of All-Star break off of Seth Lugo masterclass and Carter Jensen late-game heroics
A couple of commercial breaks late,r and the Royals tied the game up 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth as Thomas crossed home plate for a second time on the back of a throwing error by Xander Bogaerts. The sixth inning would also be the end of Lugo's night, and a fine shift he put in as well. Six solid innings on 90 pitches and just one earned run to go along with a trio of strikeouts. Not his best stuff, but definitely a leg up from his previous two starts that ended well before two-thirds of the game.
After two great one-inning performances from both Steven Cruz and John Schreiber, the Royals once again took the lead back in the bottom of the eighth. Thanks to some frenzy hitting, more Padres self-inflicted mistakes, and despite continually poor base running from Kansas City, Vinnie Pasquantino scored on a Michael Massey single.
All the Royals had to do was hold on for three more outs, and the game was theirs. But it hadn't been easy for KC all year so why would it start now. For whatever reason, Matt Quatraro decided to plug in Alex Lange to finish the game off, a guy who, before last night, had given up 25 runs in 38 innings as a reliever. Two consecutive outfield flys put the Royals one out away when Lange lofted a meatball to Padres first baseman Ty France, who took advantage and tied the game up 3-3 going into the bottom of the ninth.
Incredibly, the Royals found themselves with the bases loaded and no outs off an Isaac Collins single, a Carter Jensen double, and an intentional walk on Bobby Witt Jr. But a story as old as time, the Royals failed to capitalize. Three straight strikeouts on Josh Rojas, Thomas, and Pasquantino sent the game into extra innings.
Just a couple pitches into the top of the 10th from Lucas Erceg, who has simply been unplayable this year, and fans could start to feel the air leave their lungs, and steam begin to shoot out of their ears. Erceg immediately gave up a double, putting San Diego up 4-3, and then committed a comedy of mental errors that put the Padres with runners on first and third with no outs.
Fernando Tatis Jr. singled on his third hit of the game, driving in the run from third, Padres up two now with no end in sight. Erceg, thankfully, was able to escape the hellish inning with three straight outs, but not before surrendering another run on a sac fly from Bogaerts. The Royals entered the bottom of the 10th, completely deflated on the outside, but still carrying that same belief on the inside. And it turns out all the lineup needed was a little spark to get a blazing fire going.
Pasquantino began the inning as the runner on second and was moved to third quickly off a Salvador Perez single. Then, a guy who had quite the night, both good and bad, Michael Massey hit a single of his own, scoring the 'Pasquatch' and putting Perez and himself on second and first with no outs. Hope began to creep back into the over 25,000 strong at Kauffman Stadium at that point
Nick Loftin, who's been having the best season of his career, to everyone's surprise, laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line, freezing pitcher Kyle Hart in his tracks and loading the bases with no outs. Every Royals fan was praying to god that, finally, for once this year, Kansas City could finish something that they started.
Isaac Collins answered those prayers in a simple manner, grounding out at first, but bringing in Perez to cut the Padres' lead down to one run. Royals down 6-5 with just one out and two players in scoring position. Of course, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, 23-year-old Carter Jensen, who has been a revelation this season and looks like a future cornerstone of this franchise, stepped up to the plate
With one swing of the bat, Jensen cracked the ball up to left fielder Jase Bowen. Massey scored easily from third, but the huffing and puffing Loftin was the real test. Third base coach Vance Wilson waved him in. Then came the throw from Bowen, as breaths were held and chants of "SLIDE!!!" from every single mouth in that stadium, and watching from home came through. Loftin dove in right leg first to home plate, stretching out as much as he could. It was a fine throw from Bowen, but it was too late. Loftin crossed home, etching the Royals' victory in stone and capping off Carter Jensen as the hero of the night.
It marked the Royals' fourth walk-off win of this season and the first of Jensen's young career. When asked postgame by Royals reporter Joel Goldberg to describe the comeback, Jensen summed it up in seven words. "Battle back. Never give up. Be relentless." The belief and mindset that Kansas City has kept all year, in spite of the hardships and the reason why Royals fans will always cheer on their boys in blue.
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