Royals 8, Guardians 3: Rojas, Called From the Bench, Drives in Four

He entered in the sixth. He left with four RBI.

August 29, 2026 - Cleveland - Josh Rojas was not in the starting lineup. Kansas City called him to pinch-hit in the sixth with the game already tilting. He lined a two-run single to left. Two innings later he hit a two-run homer to right, his second of the year.

The Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-3. It was Kansas City's 12th win in 13 games. Rojas' other four-RBI night came with Arizona in 2022.

Two down early. Four in the sixth.

Jo Adell walked to start the second. Angel Martínez drove a changeup from Daniel Lynch IV into the left-field bleachers, his 13th. 2-0 Cleveland. Lynch, in his fifth start since moving from the bullpen, lasted 3 1/3 innings, two runs.

Kansas City tied it in the fifth. Nick Loftin doubled. Tyler Tolbert reached on an infield single. Isaac Collins doubled both home. 2-2.

The sixth was the game. The first five Royals reached. Salvador Perez doubled Bobby Witt Jr. in off Colin Holderman (6-4). John Rave reached on a fielder's choice, José Ramírez kicking it, Jac Caglianone scoring. Rojas' single scored Loftin and Rave. 6-2.

Rojas' homer in the eighth, 360 feet to right, scored Rave again. 8-2. Martínez singled Ramírez home in the ninth. That was Cleveland's last run.

Anthony Gose (1-0) threw 1 2/3 scoreless after Lynch and got the win. Five Royals relievers combined to allow one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings. Foster Griffin had given Cleveland five innings, two runs, in his fifth start since the deadline. Holderman could not get an out after the first batter of the sixth.

AthX Engine scored the pinch-hit and the team pile

AthX Engine put Kansas City at 16 team fantasy points, second only to Chicago's 32. Rojas scored 10 hitting FP, tied among Saturday's top bats. Cleveland had Martínez's three RBI and still finished on the wrong side of an 8-3.

What's next

Seth Lugo was next for Kansas City. Parker Messick was next for Cleveland. The Guardians had won seven in a row before dropping two. The Royals are 62-75 and still winning games they used to give away in the sixth.

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*Sources: MLB Gameday, ESPN recap, MLB schedule, AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*