(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Vinnie Pasquantino Powers Royals Past Nationals, 8-5
Kansas City, MO – Vinnie Pasquantino starred for the Kansas City Royals, hitting a home run, a double, and driving in five runs as the team defeated the Washington Nationals 8-5, bringing the Royals back to a .500 record for the second time since mid-June.
Pasquantino helped Kansas City take control early. He opened the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly, then launched Mitchell Parker’s first-pitch fastball into the stands in the third inning, extending the lead to 4-0. He capped the Royals’ scoring with an RBI double in the seventh.
Jonathan India added a two-run homer in the sixth, pushing the Royals ahead 7-2. Pitcher Michael Wacha (7-9) delivered a strong outing, allowing two runs over 5 2/3 innings, striking out three while keeping his streak of six consecutive starts with fewer than three runs intact.
For Washington, Mitchell Parker (7-13) struggled, surrendering five runs in 5 1/3 innings, extending his tough run over the last three starts. Lucas Erceg secured his second save with a perfect ninth inning.
The Nationals fought back, with CJ Abrams and James Wood driving in runs in the sixth and seventh, including Wood’s fourth straight multi-hit game. Despite their efforts, the Royals held on for the win, led by Pasquantino’s dominant performance.