Royals Fall Short Against Nationals in 7-3 Defeat

June 15, 2026; Washington, D.C. - The Kansas City Royals faced a challenging matchup against the Washington Nationals, ultimately succumbing to a 7-3 loss at Nationals Park. Mitch Spence, recalled from AAA for this start, struggled on the mound, contributing to the Royals' current woes.

The game was marked by a series of ground balls from both teams, with several key plays narrowly escaping the reach of Royals defenders. In the third inning, Nasim Nuñez managed to reach base with a single, followed by a line drive double from James Wood that evaded first baseman Salvador Perez, who was preoccupied with Nuñez's potential steal. This play allowed Nuñez to advance to third, setting the stage for Curtis Mead's hit, which bounced off Nick Loftin’s glove, resulting in two runs for the Nationals.

As the game progressed, the Nationals extended their lead in the fifth inning. After loading the bases, Luis García Jr. hit a liner that slipped past left fielder Isaac Collins, allowing two runs to score. The Nationals took control with a powerful home run from Dylan Crews, who connected on a 3-2 pitch from Mason Black, driving the ball deep into the left-field seats to make it 7-3.

The Royals had their moments, briefly taking the lead in the fourth when Starling Marte scored following a series of misplays by the Nationals. However, the offense dwindled after the Nationals pulled ahead, with Nick Loftin's late double in the ninth failing to spark a comeback.

In total, the Royals' pitching staff recorded only three strikeouts while walking four batters, a stark contrast to the 20 groundouts they induced. This loss leaves the Royals with a record of 29-44, currently struggling at the bottom of the American League standings. The Nationals, now at 38-35, remain in contention for a Wild Card spot in the National League.

The teams will meet again tomorrow at 5:45 PM Central Time.