KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yogi Berra was wrong. This one was over before it was over.
Texas routed the Royals 12-3 at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday, and the only sliver of good news was that they’ll now embark on another road trip.
The Royals lost all six games of this home stand and were outscored 52-15. They are a dreadful 1-12 at Kauffman Stadium this season, which ties the 2018 Royals’ club record for worst home mark after 13 games.
By historical comparison, the 1988 Baltimore Oriole started the season with a 5-30 record, but they were 4-9 at home.
Texas jumped ahead early Wednesday, scoring a run in the first inning and two in the second against Royals starter Brady Singer.
After a solid 2023 debut, Singer has a 10.13 ERA in his last three starts, allowing 18 earned runs in 16 innings pitched.
The Royals hurt themselves by failing to lock things down while trying to rally.
They got a run back in the third, but Singer allowed two in the fourth. After the Royals scored twice in the sixth inning, Texas put up four against reliever Taylor Clarke in the seventh.
That made it a 9-3 game at the seventh-inning stretch and the Royals, 4-15, were on their way to another loss.
Player of the game
Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. gave the announced crowd of 10,388 reason to cheer a few times.
Witt crushed a home run to left field in the third inning that landed in front of the Royals Hall of Fame. It was a no-doubter.
Witt also made no fewer than three dazzling plays in the field, including one in the third inning, when he took a hit away from Nathaniel Lowe.
Hernandez bounces back
One night after allowing five runs without getting an out, relief pitcher Carlos Hernández needed just 15 pitches to retire the Rangers in order in the sixth inning.
Hernández struck out a pair of Rangers in the frame.
What’s next:The Royals are off Thursday. They open a 10-game road trip Friday against the Los Angeles Angels. After three against the Angels, the Royals will play three against the Diamondbacks and four against the Twins.
