Royals Fall to Marlins 9-6 Despite Three Home Runs

It was bombs away for both the Kansas City Royals and Miami Marlins at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday night, as the two teams combined for six home runs, and the Marlins were able to do enough to seal a 9-6 victory. 

Miami struck early, scoring two runs before Royals starter Noah Cameron was able to record an out. After Heriberto Hernandez was hit to lead off the game, Otto Lopez drove in Hernandez from first base. Kyle Stowers then drove in Lopez with a single up the middle to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

It looked like the Marlins were going to give Cameron trouble with a great first inning; however, the Royals immediately responded, giving their starting pitcher plenty of support. 

Carter Jensen hit his sixth leadoff home run of the season, setting the Royals leadoff home run record as a rookie. After Bobby Witt Jr. singled to right field, Jac Caglianone scored Witt on a double down the right-field line, tying the game at two. 

Before the Marlins starter was able to record an out, Royals catcher Salvador Perez made a big splash, leaving the yard to left field and scoring Caglianone. Michael Massey followed with an RBI double giving Kansas City a 5-2 lead in an excellent response to the Marlins' first inning. 

Noah Cameron really settled in after the rough first inning. He retired the Marlins in order on 12 pitches and retired eight batters in a row before yielding a Kyle Stowers solo home run to make it 5-3. 

Carter Jensen homered for the second time in the fourth inning, giving the Royals a 6-3 lead. However, from there, Royals pitching collapsed, and the Marlins offense was rejuvenated. 

Cameron left an off-speed pitch in the zone to Heriberto Hernandez, who scored Jared Serna on the ground-rule double. Cameron then struck out three batters in a row with runners on second and third to end the inning and get himself out of a jam, preserving the Royals' 6-4 lead in the fifth inning. 

The Griffin Conine show began in the sixth inning, as he singled after a leadoff single and a walk, bringing the Marlins within a run at 6-5. Kyle Isbel then made a diving catch in center field, but still allowed the tying run to score on the sacrifice fly. Royals reliever Jose Cuas was only able to record a single out while giving up two earned runs. 

Hernandez gave the Marlins a 7-6 lead in the sixth, and the Marlins added two solo home runs in the ninth inning for insurance, ultimately sealing a 9-6 win, with the help of two game-saving catches by Conine, taking scoring opportunities away from the Royals.