In an extraordinary display of bullpen strength, the Kansas City Royals clinched a dramatic 1-0 victory against the Atlanta Braves, concluding their series finale on Wednesday in Kansas City. Due to a string of injuries affecting the Royalsโ starting rotation, manager Matt Quatraro crafted a strategy that leaned entirely on the bullpen. What unfolded was nothing short of historic, as nine Royals pitchers combined to deliver an impeccable shutout, pulling off a feat that only one other team had done in major league history.
The pivotal moment arrived when struggling reliever Sam Long skillfully navigated through a two-on, no-out predicament by dismissing three consecutive Braves in the top of the 10th inning. In the bottom half, Salvador Perezโs single to right field drove MJ Melendez home, handing the Royals the win. In doing so, the Royals equaled a league record by utilizing nine pitchers in a shutout, a record initially set by Cleveland in a similar 10-inning game back in 2016. Quatraro praised his bullpen, stating, โNot only did they pitch incredibly well today, but they had a huge workload these last four or five days. I canโt credit them enough.โ
The formidable group of nine pitchers managed to stifle the Bravesโ offense, allowing just five hits and one walk while striking out ten batters. Sam Long, who entered the match with a 7.40 ERA this season, secured the victory two hours and 38 minutes after Angel Zerpa set the tone in the first inning. Among the bullpen, Jonathan Bowlan was the only one to pitch more than an inning, completing a full two. Highlights included John Schreiber striking out the side in the fourth inning, Hunter Harvey maneuvering out of a tight spot in the sixth, and clutch plays from relievers Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estรฉvez towards the gameโs conclusion.
Erceg encountered a brief challenge in the eighth but managed to keep the Braves scoreless. Meanwhile, Estรฉvez made a crucial catch on a liner that thwarted a potential score for the Braves. As the game progressed, the impressive performance by Joey Wentz from the opposing team stood out. Wentz, a Kansas native, matched the Royalsโ prowess by conceding just one hit and three walks across 6 2/3 innings, striking out seven in the process. Despite his stellar outing, the Braves never managed to crack the Royalsโ bullpenโs code.
With an off-day awaiting them before the weekendโs series in Toronto, the Royals had some flexibility, although they remained beset by injuries. Key pitchers like Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen were already on the injured list, and All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic had recently been sidelined with a season-ending injury. Given these circumstances, the bullpenโs resilience proved invaluable. Thomas Hatch remained the sole reliever not to pitch, as the Royals capitalized on Perezโs heroics in the 10th inning to seal their victory.
Manager Quatraro acknowledged the challenges, โIt wasnโt easy. There was danger at times there. But you go backwards and see what Sammy did there, and to really execute โ that was enormous.โ The Royalsโ bullpen had not only executed flawlessly over ten innings but had also demonstrated an enduring capacity to respond effectively under mounting pressure and fatigue.