Royals vs Reds Recap: Late rally falls short in 4-3 loss

The Reds hosted the Royals at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Kansas City was hungry for a win after dropping yesterday's game 9-2. The Royals came out swinging and scored the first run in the fourth inning. Salvador Perez walked and advanced on a ground ball. Jac Caglianone grounded out to second, but Perez raced home with the lead. The Royals weren't done yet. Michael Massey ripped a single up the middle with runners on base. Both Nick Loftin and Starling Marte crossed the plate on the hit. Kansas City led 3-0 early and controlled the game's momentum. The Royals' bats were alive. Their pitcher Noah Cameron was throwing strikes and keeping Cincinnati off balance. Kansas City held the advantage heading into the middle innings.

Spencer Steer became the Reds' biggest threat. In the fifth inning, Steer stepped up and crushed a fastball that rocketed over the left-center field wall. The crowd jumped to their feet. Cincinnati cut the lead to 3-1. The game tightened as the Reds began to feel like they belonged. Kansas City's pitching staff had to buckle down. The Royals still led but the Reds were clawing back. Things stayed tight through the middle innings. In the eighth inning, Steer came up again. This time he faced reliever Matt Strahm. The ball exploded off his bat toward right-center. Another home run. Steer had tied the game at 3-3 with sheer power. The Reds had come all the way back. Kansas City's lead had vanished. Everything was on the line now.

The game went to the ninth inning locked at 3-3. Will Benson stepped to the plate facing reliever Lucas Erceg. Benson was looking for something to hit. He got what he wanted. The ball sailed into right field for a home run. Benson sprinted around the bases and crossed home plate. Cincinnati erupted. The Reds took a 4-3 lead but the game wasn't quite over. Kansas City got one last chance in the tenth inning. John Schreiber pitched for the Royals. Blake Dunn stepped up for the Reds and ripped a single to right field. Spencer Steer sprinted home from second base and scored the final run. The Reds held on 4-3. Cincinnati improved to 31-29 while Kansas City dropped to 23-38. The Reds' bats had come through when it mattered most.