Royals rally for 2-1 win vs. Guardians

Quatraro tossed in fifth inning

Royals manager Matt Quatraro exited early on Thursday. In the fifth inning, Quatraro was ejected from the game by third base umpire Tripp Gibson.

Quatraro pleaded his case after Royals utilityman Nick Loftin was called out at third base to end the frame.

Loftin raced to third base after Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe hit a sharp ground ball to Guardians star Jose Ramirez. The standout infielder fielded the baseball in front of Loftin as he raced towards the bag.

Loftin attempted to evade Ramirez on the play. He ran around Ramirez to subsequently avoid being the third and final out. Meanwhile, Ramirez attempted to tag Loftin as both met at the third-base bag.

Gibson called out Loftin for running outside the baseline. The Royals were turned away in the fifth and trailed by one run.

Quatraro didn’t like the call. He ran out for an explanation from Gibson. Both men had a long conversation before Quatraro was tossed.

Royals bench coach Paul Hoover took over the managerial duties.

Renfroe records outfield assist

The Royals produced some quality defensive plays against the Guardians. In the third inning, Renfroe threw out Ramirez attempting to stretch a single into a double.

Ramirez laced a 90.2-mph cutter down the right-field line. He raced around first base as Renfroe gathered to field the baseball. However, Ramirez wasn’t quick enough to move up the extra 90 feet as Renfroe fired a strike to Bobby Witt Jr. at second base.

Witt applied the tag; Ramirez was thrown out. It was Renfroe’s fifth outfield assist this season and his 69th since the 2017 campaign.

What’s next on the Royals’ schedule:

The Royals continue their crucial four-game home series against the Guardians. On Friday, KC will turn to right-handed pitcher Alec Marsh.

Marsh is 4-6 with a 4.07 ERA this season. In his last start, he allowed three earned runs against the Texas Rangers on June 23.

The Guardians will send ace pitcher Triston McKenzie to the mound. McKenzie owns a 3.19 ERA in 12 career appearances against the Royals.