Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and Kansas City moved into a tie for first with Cleveland by beating the Guardians 6-1 on Tuesday night in a game delayed more than two hours by rain.
The Royals, who lost 106 games last season, improved to a league-best 23-13 since the All-Star break, when they trailed the Guardians by seven games.
DeJong connected in the second inning off Gavin Williams (2-7), and the Royals tacked on three runs in the seventh off Scott Barlow on RBI singles by Maikel Garcia and Michael Massey, to go along with a wild pitch.
James McArthur (5-5) struck out four in two innings, and the Royals’ solid bullpen closed with five perfect innings following the rain delay. The Guardians were held to just three hits.
Kansas City’s win came with a minor scare.
All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got hit on the right hand by a pitch from Pedro Avila in the seventh inning. Witt grabbed his right hand in pain, but the majors’ leader in average, hits and runs stayed in the game and ripped a double in the ninth.
Quatraro said Witt got hit on the right middle finger. In the clubhouse, Witt indicated to reporters he was OK.
Royals starter Michael Lorenzen left in the second after straining his left hamstring while covering first base. Quatraro said Lorenzen will return to Kansas City on Wednesday to undergo imaging tests.
OF Hunter Renfroe (strained right hamstring) continues to undergo treatment and Quatraro said the hope is “to get him back out there as quickly as we can.” Renfroe was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday after his leg tightened against Philadelphia.
Royals RHP Michael Wacha (11-6, 3.23 ERA) Wednesday at 12:10.