Kansas City Royals Beat Cincinnati Reds 5-2, Win First Road Series Since May 3

Coming off a six-game losing streak, the Kansas City Royals were able to steal a series from the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, taking two of three games by beating the Reds 5-2 in Game 3.

Starter Stephen Kolek threw seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and two walks. He had seven strikeouts through his first three innings but recorded only one additional strikeout before being removed prior to the eighth inning.

The Royals got on the board in the first inning after a Bobby Witt Jr. walk. Vinnie Pasquantino came to the plate to face stellar Reds rookie Chase Burns. Pasquantino turned around a 98 mph fastball above the zone for a two-run shot, giving Kansas City an early lead.

No one would score again until the fifth inning. Kolek got out of a jam in the third inning after a Blake Dunn single put Tyler Stephenson on third base with one out. He faced two of the Reds' hottest hitters, JJ Bleday, who recently won NL Player of the Month honors, and Sal Stewart. He struck out both, ending the inning.

Dunn was able to get to the Royals in the fifth inning, hitting a two-run home run to tie the game. Those were the only runs Kolek would allow during his start. In his six appearances in 2026, Kolek is 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a 27-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He threw 15 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball in back-to-back starts in May.

The Royals took advantage of batting-practice fastballs from Reds reliever Tony Santillan in the ninth inning. Jac Caglianone hit a single through the right side to lead off the inning. He was then pinch-run for by Tyler Tolbert. Isaac Collins then laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Tolbert to second.

Red-hot Michael Massey came to the plate having seven hits in his last 15 at-bats, and he turned around a wheelhouse 96 mph fastball into right field, scoring Tolbert and giving the Royals a 3-2 lead. The next batter, Nick Loftin, jumped out to a 2-0 count, forcing Santillan to groove a 95 mph fastball over the middle of the plate, which Loftin deposited into the seats, giving Kansas City two more insurance runs and a 5-2 lead. It was Loftin's first home run of the season. 

Royals reliever Alex Lange came in with a save opportunity and allowed a leadoff double by Spencer Steer and walked Noelvi Marte, bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs for Blake Dunn. Lange induced a flyout to end the game, giving the Royals their first road series victory since May 3.

Kansas City is now 24-38, 11.5 games behind first place in the AL Central and a half-game behind the fourth-place Detroit Tigers. The Royals begin a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.