Cole Ragans tossed six scoreless innings in the longest start of his major league career for the Kansas City Royals, who continued their longest winning streak in over two years by blanking the visiting New York Mets 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Michael Massey laced a two-run double in the first for the Royals, who have the second-worst record in baseball but have won five straight — their longest streak since winning six in a row from July 20-26, 2021.
The Mets, who finished a trade deadline overhaul on Tuesday by trading Justin Verlander back to the Houston Astros, were shut out for the 10th time this season.
Ragans (3-3), who was recalled from Triple-A Omaha prior to the game, gave up seven hits and one walk while striking out a career-high eight in earning his first win with the Royals. He was acquired on June 30 as part of the trade that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers.
Before Wednesday, Ragans hadn’t thrown more than five innings in any of his 10 big-league starts.
Ragans got a little help in preserving the shutout on his final pitch, which Jonathan Arauz hit for a single. But Mark Vientos, who had doubled with one out, was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Drew Waters.
Angel Zerpa gave up one hit over two innings before the Mets loaded the bases in the ninth against Taylor Clarke, who issued two walks and gave up a hit in a non-save situation before getting Jeff McNeil to hit a game-ending groundout.
Massey’s RBI hit highlighted a first inning in which the Royals sent eight batters to the plate against Kodai Senga (7-6). Kansas City opened the second with three straight singles, the last of which was an RBI hit by Bobby Witt Jr.
Waters homered in the eighth.
Maikel Garcia had three hits for the Royals while Witt had two singles and a stolen base. Kyle Isbel also had two hits.
Leadoff hitter McNeil had three hits for the Mets while No. 9 hitter Danny Mendick added two.
Senga gave up three runs on a season-high 11 hits while walking two and striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
