Hot stove hums as Royals' Michael Wacha logs 15th quality start in loss at Rockies

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Aug 1, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DENVER — The Kansas City Royals returned to action on Friday night after being walked off in disappointing fashion against the Minnesota Twins.

It was a new night and a new opponent. The Royals took aim against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field for the first time since 2024.

New game opponent ... but the result remained the same. The Royals fell, 3-1, to the Rockies in the weekend series opener.

The Royals (46-65) failed to provide All-Star starting pitcher Michael Wacha with adequate run support. It’s been a recurring theme, and Wacha once again posted a quality start.

Wacha allowed three runs (one earned) and recorded seven strikeouts in six innings of work. Prior to Friday’s start, the Royals had given Wacha an average of 3.10 runs of support per outing — the lowest mark for any big-league starter this season.

The Royals struggled offensively against Rockies right-handed starter Tomoyuki Sugano. He limited Kansas City to five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Royals catcher Carter Jensen provided the visitors’ lone run. He belted his 15th home run of the year off the right-field facade in the sixth; the blast traveled 424 feet to put the Royals on the board.

But Sugano continued to pitch efficiently. He didn’t overpower the Royals, instead relying on his defense. In the third inning, the Rockies erased Salvador Perez’s leadoff single as Michael Massey grounded into a double play.

Later, Isaac Collins hit a two-out triple but was left stranded at third base.

Sugano earned his 11th victory of the season. He has allowed just four earned runs in three career starts against the Royals.

Wacha took the hard-luck loss. The Royals’ defense didn’t help him out much, either, committing two critical errors.

In the fourth inning, Colorado scored two runs following Massey’s throwing error with two outs. The Royals’ second baseman threw wildly to Wacha, who was attempting to cover the first base bag on Troy Johnston’s routine groundout.

The gaffe allowed Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros — who hit a one-out single — to score from second on the play. The Rockies (42-68) added a second run on Brenton Doyle’s RBI double.

At that point, Colorado held a 3-0 advantage. The Royals cut into the deficit with Jensen’s solo homer, but it wasn’t enough.

Two Rockies recorded RBIs Friday. Colorado first baseman TJ Rumfield drove in the first run with an single in the first inning.

The Royals have now lost five of eight on their 10-game road trip.

What’s next?

Royals right-hander Luinder Avila (5-3, 4.81 ERA) will start on Saturday night oppose Rockies righty Ryan Feltner (3-5, 5.73 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:40 p.m. Central Time.