KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals’ quest to eclipse last season’s win total will have to wait one additional day. On Tuesday, the Royals lost 6-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Kauffman Stadium.

Arizona scored early, with a three-run first inning, and relied on veteran starter Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery faced little trouble against the Royals. He allowed an RBI double to red-hot Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. but nothing else.

Witt finished 1 for 4. He snapped a four-game streak with three hits in a game.

Montgomery allowed one run in five innings. He also registered two strikeouts and surrendered one walk.

The Royals were unable to solve his four-pitch arsenal that included a sinker, change-up, curveball and fastball. As a result, Montgomery registered 34 swings and eight whiffs.

KC struggled against the Arizona bullpen as well. Diamondbacks reliever Bryce Jarvis recorded three strikeouts in two relief innings. Later, Arizona trio Joe Mantiply, Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel — who allowed a run — sealed the victory.

The Royals dropped to 56-46. They also ended a four-game winning streak to start the second half of the 2024 campaign.

Arizona improved to 52-50. Royals starter Alec Marsh took the loss after allowing five runs.

Here are more notables from Tuesday’s game:

Marsh falters in start

Marsh fell behind early against the Diamondbacks. In the first inning, he allowed three runs as Arizona sent seven batters to the plate.

Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll led off the game with a single. Two batters later, Arizona had loaded the bases for veteran slugger Christian Walker.

Marsh induced a sacrifice fly to retire Walker. However, he failed to limit the early damage as catcher Gabriel Moreno recorded a two-run single to extend the lead.

The Royals added a run in the bottom of the first. However, the Diamondbacks continued to add on.

Marsh labored in the fifth inning as he allowed a two-run homer to second baseman Ketel Marte that hit the right-field foul pole.

KC turned to the bullpen in the following frame. Marsh suffered his seventh loss as he allowed five runs and struck out six batters.

What’s next on the Royals' schedule?

The Royals conclude their three-game series with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. KC will start right-hander Michael Wacha in the finale.

Wacha is 6-2 with a 2.30 ERA in his last 10 starts. He recently earned his eighth quality start after pitching seven shutout innings against the Chicago White Sox last Friday.

The Diamondbacks will start right-hander Ryne Nelson in the rubber game. He is 7-6 with a 4.78 ERA.

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