WASHINGTON — The Kansas City Royals showcased a key strength that every playoff team needs in order to make a run at the World Series: the ability to manufacture a run.

The Royals scored three go-ahead runs in the ninth inning Thursday to beat the Washington Nationals 7-4. The Royals swept the Nats, improved to 85-74 and trimmed their magic number to two games.

“Those are the things you have to do in close games, whether it’s playoffs or not,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “So they executed and I couldn’t be happier for them.”

Seeking to return to the Major League Baseball postseason for the first time in a decade, the Royals battled all afternoon long at Nationals Park. Quatraro pushed the correct buttons in the ninth, sending in three pinch hitters.

MJ Melendez got the final and deciding inning started with a leadoff walk. He was inserted for Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who homered earlier in the game.

Quatraro made another quick adjustment once Melendez reached base. He brought in speedster Dairon Blanco to pinch-run. Blanco did his job, as he stole second base and represented the go-ahead run.

Michael Massey drew a walk and KC had two runners aboard. Kyle Isbel delivered a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt to move both men into scoring position.

“It doesn’t often work out the way you think it’s going to work out,” Quatraro said. “But it did in that inning.”

Quatraro turned to veteran infielder Adam Frazier as the last pinch-hitter of the ninth, and Frazier delivered in a big way with a two-run single to give the Royals the lead.

“I’ve got to be ready,” Frazier said. “It’s kind of where we are at right now with the role and stuff. “(Washington had) a bunch of lefty starters and three or four lefties in the bullpen. So I knew if I was getting an at-bat, it was going to be off (Tanner) Rainey or (Kyle) Finnegan.

“I studied those guys the last few days and just tried to be ready when the opportunity happens.”

The Royals did their late-inning damage against Finnegan. He allowed three runs, including a two-RBI single by Royals captain Salvador Perez.

Lucas Erceg closed out the game. He picked up his 14th save and completed the Royals’ series sweep, highlighting a stellar run by the KC bullpen of late.

“It’s the first time that I did that,” Erceg said of pitching on three consecutive days. “I felt good when I was out there and I’m a little tired now. It’s cool to have that experience, now that I have done it, moving forward.”

Washington (69-90) scored its runs early: Second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. hit a three-run homer to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning.

Nationals starter Patrick Corbin allowed four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Michael Wacha earns no-decision

The Royals turned to Wacha in a familiar spot Thursday: He was tasked with closing out the three-game series against the Nationals.

In his previous three starts, Wacha had allowed three runs in 17 2/3 innings. He had also lowered his earned run average to 3.28.

The veteran pitcher was tagged for four runs (three earned) against the Nationals. He made one crucial mistake that resulted in Garcia’s three-run homer in the third inning.

Garcia drilled a 79.2 mph changeup left hanging over the plate, and his homer tied the game 4-4.

But then Wacha settled into his start. He allowed five hits and walked one, striking out two in five innings.

Hunter Renfroe blasts 14th home run

The Royals got a major lift from Renfroe in the second inning.

The veteran slugger smashed a 424-foot homer over the center-field wall for a 1-0 KC lead.

Until Thursday, Renfroe had most recently homered on Sept. 9 against the New York Yankees. The Royals will need his production with the playoffs on the horizon.

Injury update: Vinnie Pasquantino shows encouraging signs

As the Royals near a return to the postseason, Vinnie Pasquantino is working on a return of his own.

On Thursday, Pasquantino took live batting practice at Nationals Park. He hit off a pitching machine in the latest step toward recovery from surgery to repair his broken right thumb.

Pasquantino was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 30 after breaking his thumb in a series against Houston. KC subsequently added three veterans — Tommy Pham, Yuli Gurriel and Robbie Grossman — to help replace Pasquantino’s production in the lineup.

His absence is still felt, however. The Royals have struggled to come through with runners in scoring position. Teams have pitched around Bobby Witt Jr. at key moments in games due to the lack of a threat in the lineup behind him.

Pasquantino was initially set to miss six to eight weeks. There is a chance he could return if the Royals make the postseason.

What’s next on the KC Royals’ schedule:

The Royals begin their regular-season series against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night at Truist Park.

KC is scheduled to start right-handed pitcher Brady Singer in the series opener. There is a chance inclement weather will be a factor: Hurricane Helene was tracking toward Atlanta late Thursday.

The Braves have already postponed their last two games. Both teams will be monitoring the impact of the storm before deciding if Friday’s game can be played.

_____

©2024 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.