Kansas City Royals left-hander Danny Duffy made his first start since the club sidelined him for missing a team flight to Detroit earlier this week.
His teammates burst out of the gates and staked him to a four-run lead in the first inning. However, the Milwaukee Brewers scored the game's next nine runs and put a damper on Duffy's return to the starting rotation.
Duffy allowed six runs, which matched a season high, on seven hits. All the significant damage came in the fourth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers blasted a pair of homers, including a Jacob Nottingham grand slam as they dealt the Royals a 9-5 loss in the opening game of a three-game series at Miller Park on Friday night.
Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 4 for 5 with a home run, a double, four RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base, while Whit Merrifield and Adalberto Mondesi had two hits apiece.
Mondesi registered his MLB-leading 18th stolen base. Ryan O'Hearn and Mondesi also hit doubles in the loss.
The Royals stranded 10 men on base, and they went 4 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Right-handed pitcher Scott Blewett made his big league debut out of the bullpen for the Royals (21-30). He pitched two scoreless innings, struck out two and allowed three hits.
