PHOENIX — — Scott Barlow got Christian Walker to hit into a game-ending groundout with runners on second and third, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Tuesday night for just their second win in 11 games.
Brady Singer (2-2) rebounded from three poor starts and the Royals tied their season high with 14 hits.
Edward Olivares hit an RBI single in the first and Nicky Lopez doubled the lead with a run-scoring single in the fourth. Walker had an RBI groundout in the bottom half, but Kansas City opened a 4-1 lead in the fifth when Michael Massey hit a run-scoring single and Reyes followed with a sacrifice fly.
MJ Melendez (lower back tightness) is “feeling better,” according to manager Matt Quatraro. Melendez left Sunday’s game against Toronto and sat out Monday. … Quatraro aid LHP Daniel Lynch (rotator cuff strain) had a good bullpen session in nearby Surprise and could make a rehab start in a week.
Kansas City LHP Ryan Yarbrough (0-2, 7.62) makes his first start of the season today at 2:40.
The Royals are in last place in the AL Central, 8 games behind first place Minnesota, Cleveland is 3 games out, Detroit 4 games out, and the White Sox are 7 games off the pace.