Michael Wacha Praises Royals' Hitting Duo In Win Over Marlins

The Kansas City Royals avoided a potential three-game sweep by the Miami Marlins on Thursday with a 7-3 victory on the heels of offensive masterclasses by Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen.

Michael Wacha was instrumental in the win as well, fanning seven batters despite allowing six hits, three earned runs and two walks through six innings pitched.

Still, the veteran right-hander gave the majority of the credit to Caglianone's 2-for-4 performance at the plate and Jensen who plated three runs.

"They picked me up in a big way today," Wacha said, according to MLB.com. "They’re dangerous in the box. They’re swinging at good pitches and making a lot of hard contact."  

Miami's Heriberto Hernández struck early in the first with a solo homer to left center while Joe Mack extended the lead to 2-0 in the second with an RBI single that drove in Jakob Marsee.

Jensen and Caglianone quickly got to work in the third with the former bringing home Kyle Isbel with a one-run triple. Caglianone then tied it with an RBI double that scored Jensen.

The Marlins attacked Wacha again in the fourth as Agustín Ramírez took him deep for a solo blast to center field. 

Meanwhile, the Royals struggled against 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcántara until Jensen crushed a two-run shot to right-center field to put the team up 4-3 in the fifth.

Kansas City pulled away in the eighth as Caglianone scored Jensen once more while franchise home run leader Salvador Perez drove in Caglianone with a one-run double. Vinnie Pasquantino wrapped up the frenzy with another RBI double that scored Tyler Tolbert.

Reliever Steven Cruz sealed Miami's fate in the ninth, retiring three batters in Ramírez, Mack and Graham Pauley. Pauley would terrorize Kansas City on Tuesday with a two-run homer that set the tone for a 6-3 Royals loss.

With the win, Jensen has batted .231 while recording a .758 OPS and knocking in 67 RBI. He has also logged a .316 on-base percentage and launched 22 home runs. As for Caglianone, he continues to lead the Royals' lineup with a .284 hitting average and 23 home runs.

Meanwhile, Wacha improved to 9-8 overall through 28 starts this season while striking out 143 batters and recording a 3.36 ERA in 176.2 innings of work. 

As Kansas City remains set on making a late-season playoff push, matchups where everyone executes in all facets will be key with the club sitting 15 games below .500.

Jensen will be primed for another opportunity to contribute tonight at 8:10 p.m. EDT as the Royals open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium.