It’s been a slow burn for Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo in recent weeks. Since the All-Star Break, the Royals ace hasn’t looked like himself on the mound.
Lugo entered Friday night — a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium — with a 7.24 ERA in eight starts following the Midsummer Classic. And his ninth one wasn’t his best performance.
The Royals gave Lugo a three-run lead in the first inning. However, Lugo struggled to put away the Tigers with two outs. He faced two bases-loaded situations early in the game — one in which he avoided trouble and another that hurt him.
In the second inning, Lugo allowed a two-run single to Kerry Carpenter with the bases loaded, which cut into the KC lead. Later, Lugo allowed a two-run double to Riley Greene as he departed in the fourth inning.
The Tigers did their best to work counts. Lugo surrendered eight hits and walked four batters in 3 ⅓ innings. He was charged with four runs as the Royals were forced to look to their bullpen.
The Royals signed Lugo to a lucrative contract extension on July 28. He will remain with the organization through the 2027 season with a vesting option for 2028.
However, things are trending the wrong way for the KC All-Star. He has allowed 31 runs in 32 ⅓ innings while failing to complete at least five innings in five of his last seven starts.
Mike Yastrzemski was a major highlight for KC
Royals leadoff hitter Mike Yastrzemski stood at third base. By all accounts, he was having a great game.
In the first inning, Yastrzemski sparked a three-run frame with his 11th career leadoff homer. It was the fourth time he has done so with the Royals this season.
But that run didn’t matter at the moment. Instead, Yastrzemski represented the game-tying run in the seventh inning, just 90 feet away.
Yastrzemski led off the seventh with a double into the right-field corner. He advanced to third base after KC superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. moved him over.
It was all set up for the Royals. The thunderous trio — Vinnie Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez — were due up in succession. And the Royals had just one out.
However, Yastrzemski was still at third base when the inning ended. Pasquantino struck out against Tigers reliever Kyle Finnegan. Garcia worked a walk, but Perez grounded out to end the frame.
The Royals were left empty-handed.
And Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler stretched the lead with a solo homer in the eighth inning. The Royals were held scoreless after the first.
So the Tigers, who trailed by three runs early in the game, ended up with a comeback victory.
Detroit has won eight of the first 11 meetings this season against the Royals.
Yastrzemski finished 3-for-5 and came a triple shy of the cycle. Garcia added his 14th home run in the loss.
AL Wild Card update
The Royals have kept tabs on the American League Wild Card race. On Friday, KC had a chance to inch closer to the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild-card spot.
The Mariners lost 5-4 to the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. However, with their own loss, the Royals remain three games behind the Mariners with 27 games to play.
The teams are on a collision course in September. The Mariners come to Kauffman Stadium from Sept. 16-18 for three games. KC split a four-game series in Seattle earlier this season.
What’s next: The Royals continue their weekend series against the Tigers on Saturday night. Stephen Kolek (4-5, 4.18 ERA) will make his Royals debut at Kauffman Stadium opposite Jack Flaherty (7-13, 4.87 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:15 p.m. Central.