Injury Updates on Lucas Erceg, Vinnie Pasquantino as Royals Fall to Astros

The Kansas City Royals endured a tough night on Thursday, suffering a 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The defeat was compounded by injuries to two key players, reliever Lucas Erceg and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Both players were hurt during the same play in the eighth inning, when Erceg tried to field a ground ball with his bare hand and made an errant throw to Pasquantino at first base. Pasquantino’s hand was caught as Astros catcher Yainer Diaz ran down the line, forcing both Royals players to exit the game with apparent hand injuries. Manager Matt Quatraro later confirmed that both were undergoing X-rays, but no further details were available at the time.

The game itself highlighted missed opportunities for the Royals. Despite taking a brief lead in the top of the seventh inning thanks to a three-run double by Kyle Isbel, Kansas City was unable to maintain their advantage. Royals starter Brady Singer pitched well, allowing two runs over six innings, but did not factor into the decision. The turning point came in the eighth inning when the Astros scored four runs, including a pivotal two-run single by Mauricio Dubon off Royals reliever John Schreiber, who had stepped in for the injured Erceg.

Adding to the Royals’ struggles was the performance of Astros outfielder Jason Heyward, who made his club debut and contributed two RBIs. Heyward drilled a two-run double in the fifth inning against Royals starter Brady Singer. Despite Singer’s solid outing, the Royals were unable to support him with enough offense. The three-run double by Kyle Isbel briefly gave the Royals a 3-2 lead, but the Astros quickly responded in the bottom of the eighth, sealing the game with their four-run outburst.

Pasquantino exits game with injury following collision with Twins’ Buxton

As a result of this loss, the Royals’ record fell to 75-60, placing them 1.5 games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the competitive American League Central race. The injuries to Erceg and Pasquantino add to the team’s challenges as they continue their push for a playoff spot. With key players sidelined and the division race tightening, the Royals will need to regroup quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive as they continue their weekend series against the Astros, with Seth Lugo set to start on Friday.