Royals rally late to top Brewers 6-4

After shutting out the Brewers in Game 1, Kansas City used a late rally and came away with a 6-4 win — completing a two-game sweep over Milwaukee.

Brad Keller took the bump with the hopes of replicating his previous two starts. However, as it’s become common, the right-hander struggled in the top of the first. After allowing a lead-off double to Kolten Wong, Omar Narváez dropped an RBI-single into left field to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead.

With the tall task of facing one of the National Leagues’ top pitchers in Corbin Burnes, Kansas City needed to take advantage of every scoring opportunity in the early innings. In the bottom of the second, the Royals did just that. Following a two-out single by Kelvin Gutiérrez, Michael A. Taylor smashed a two-run home run into the seats in left-center field. The ball traveled an estimated 437 feet at 107 mph.

With a 2-1 lead, Keller began to settle in. After allowing a run in the top of the first, the 25-year-old tossed back-to-back scoreless frames to keep the lead in tact. However, in the top of the fourth, Whit Merrifield’s college teammate, Jackie Bradley Jr., pummeled a solo shot to right field to tie the game up at two. Two innings later, Bradley Jr. drove in the go-ahead run on a fly ball to the wall in center field. Fortunately for Kansas City, Taylor made a leaping catch to prevent any further damage.

Jake Brentz and Scott Barlow combined to throw a scoreless top of the seventh, giving the Royals a chance to strike against the Milwaukee bullpen. As it turned out, it took just two pitches from a Brewers reliever to do just that. On a 1-0 count, Jorge Soler demolished a two-seam fastball that cut right into his wheelhouse over the fountains in left-center. The solo bomb snapped a 0-for-12 skid.

The rally didn’t stop there. Following Soler’s moonshot, Gutiérrez smacked a single to left and Taylor walked. Cam Gallagher moved the runners over with a sac-bunt and Nicky Lopez gave Kansas City a 4-3 lead with a safety squeeze.

Greg Holland worked a 1-2-3 top of the eighth and Kansas City added some insurance off old friend Brad Boxberger in the home half. After Salvador Perez roped an opposite field single and moved to second on a passed ball, Hanser Alberto drove him in on a bloop single to shallow right field. Alberto later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-3. Josh Staumont worked around some trouble in the top of the ninth, but ultimately slammed the door for his fifth save of the season.

The Royals, 20-22, have an off-day tomorrow before starting a three-game series against Detroit at home. Kansas City has yet to name a starter, but the Tigers will go with José Ureña. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. CT.