Bobby Witt Jr. homers before leaving with knee injury in Royals' 14-6
win over Cardinals
[June 19, 2026]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit the first of Kansas City's
three home runs before leaving with a sore right knee, and the Royals
smacked a club-record five doubles in a six-run second inning Thursday
night on the way to a 14-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez also went deep for the Royals, who set
season highs for runs and hits (17). Each of the first eight batters in
the starting lineup had at least one RBI.
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Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. talks to manager Matt
Quatraro, right, and trainer Kyle Turner, left, after getting injured
while fielding a single by St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker during the
fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Kansas
City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) |
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Witt homered in the first inning and delivered an RBI single in
the second. But he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth
after making a sliding stop at shortstop in the top of the
inning. The two-time All-Star was shaken up on the play and got
checked out on the field by an athletic trainer.
Kansas City took a 7-2 lead in the second on the strength of
five doubles — a team record for one inning. Carter Jensen,
Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte each had an RBI
double. Perez led off with a two-bagger.
Caglianone hit a two-run shot to left-center in the fourth for
his ninth homer this season. Nick Loftin doubled in two more
runs.
Perez added his 10th home run in the sixth. It was his 137th at
Kauffman Stadium, most in the ballpark’s history.
Royals starter Noah Cameron (4-4) threw 108 pitches in five
innings. He gave up four runs, three earned, and eight hits.
Matthew Liberatore (3-4) was charged with seven runs — five
earned — and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Up next
RHP Seth Lugo (2-4, 3.86 ERA) returns to the Royals’ rotation
Friday after spending the required seven days on the concussion
injured list. He was hit in the head by a line drive last week.
RHP Michael McGreevy (3-5, 2.99) pitches for the Cardinals in
the second game of the series.
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