On Saturday, Samad Taylor made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals and delivered a walk-off single to help his team snap a 10-game losing streak with a 10-9 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Taylor’s hit came in the bottom of the ninth inning and sealed the win for the Royals.
After the game, Taylor credited his success to being in the right position and having the right approach at the plate. He mentioned that the Angels had been throwing a lot of breaking balls, so he went in looking for one and capitalized on a hung change-up.
Taylor’s walk-off hit was not the only highlight of his debut. He also drew two walks earlier in the game, contributing to the Royals’ comeback from an 8-2 deficit in the seventh inning. Manager Matt Quatraro praised Taylor’s ability to keep his emotions in check and show patience in key situations.
The Angels wasted a strong start by Griffin Canning, who allowed only two runs on three hits in six innings. Brandon Drury hit two home runs and drove in three runs for the Angels, while Shohei Ohtani added his MLB-leading 23rd home run.
The Royals scored three runs in the seventh inning and three more in the eighth to tie the game at 8. In the ninth inning, Mike Trout’s RBI single gave the Angels a brief lead, but the Royals responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game again. Taylor’s walk-off hit completed the comeback for the Royals.
The Royals had struggled with runners in scoring position during their losing streak but went 6 for 10 in such situations from the seventh inning onward in this game.
In the series finale on Sunday, the Angels’ Tyler Anderson is scheduled to start against the Royals’ Zach Greinke.
On Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals ended their six-game losing streak by defeating the New York Mets with a score of 5-3. Adam Wainwright pitched into the seventh inning to earn his 198th career win, while Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run to contribute to the Cardinals’ victory.
The Cardinals, who currently have the worst record in the National League, also received a home run from Jordan Walker. Brendan Donovan and pinch-hitter Dylan Carlson added RBI singles to help secure the win. It was only the fourth win for the Cardinals in their last 17 games.
The Mets got off to a strong start when Brandon Nimmo hit a leadoff home run off Wainwright’s first pitch. Luis Guillorme added a two-run shot for the Mets, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cardinals’ offense.
At 41 years old, Wainwright pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out three batters. He is now just two wins away from reaching 200 career victories. Wainwright induced two double plays to help minimize the damage from the Mets’ offense.
Wainwright, who made his MLB debut against the Mets in 2005, has had success pitching at Citi Field and Shea Stadium throughout his career. In the 2006 NL Championship Series, he played a crucial role in the Cardinals’ victory over the Mets, saving Games 5 and 7 and securing a spot in the World Series.
Jordan Hicks, the Cardinals’ reliever, recorded three strikeouts in the ninth inning and earned his first save since 2019. Hicks underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019 and has been working his way back to form.
Kodai Senga took the loss for the Mets, giving up four runs in 6 2/3 innings. The Mets’ offense struggled to produce, falling to 19-2 when their starting pitcher goes at least six innings.
In the next game, Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco is set to face Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore. Carrasco will be looking to earn a win against the Cardinals, one of the four teams he has never beaten in his career. Liberatore, a rookie, will make his first appearance against the Mets.
The MLB Scoreboard for Saturday, June 17, 2023:
Chicago (NL) 3, Baltimore 2
Philadelphia 3, Oakland 2 (12)
Cincinnati 10, Houston 3
San Diego 2, Tampa Bay 0
Arizona 6, Cleveland 3
New York (AL) at Boston – PP (Rain)
Minnesota 2, Detroit 0
Texas 4, Toronto 2
Chicago (AL) 4, Seattle 3 (11)
Miami 5, Washington 2
Milwaukee 5, Pittsburgh 0
Atlanta 10, Colorado 2
San Francisco 15, Los Angeles (NL) 0
