Royals Recap

Welcome back to Big Dill Sports with your host, Dillon! In today's episode of "Royals Recap," we're diving into the nail-biter from Sunday, June 22, 2025, where the Kansas City Royals faced off against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Let's break down the action and unpack what made this game quite the heart-stopper.

The Royals started with a bang in the top of the sixth inning. Salvador Perez delivered a powerhouse performance by smashing a two-run homer to left-center field, bringing home Vinnie Pasquantino. It was Perez’s ninth homer of the season, and boy, did it have some serious heat, zipping off the bat at 114.1 mph—just a whisker shy of his hardest swing in the Statcast Era! This gave the Royals an early 2-0 lead.

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh, and the Padres had plans of their own. Jose Iglesias stepped up with bases loaded and delivered a clutch, pinch-hit single to right field. This hit brought Jackson Merrill and Gavin Sheets across the plate, knotting the game up at two apiece.

In the bottom of the eighth, Royals rookie Jac Caglianone made sure the excitement didn't die down. In a jaw-dropping moment, he leaped high at the right-field wall, robbing Jackson Merrill of a would-be two-run homer. Sometimes defense can be just as thrilling as offense, and Jac definitely proved that!

With the score still tied heading into the ninth, tensions were high. The Royals had an opportunity when Drew Waters tried to score from first on a Freddy Fermin double. However, a brilliant relay from Merrill to Iglesias cut Waters down at home, preserving the tie for the Padres.

But in the bottom of the ninth, Jose Iglesias did it again. With the bases loaded, his fielder's choice grounder allowed Luis Arraez to hustle home from third, securing a 3-2 victory for the Padres on a thrilling walk-off.

Now, let's shine a spotlight on some key Royals performances. Salvador Perez ended the game 1-for-3, with that monster home run and two RBIs. Bobby Witt Jr. kept his bat warm, going 2-for-4, and Freddy Fermin chipped in with a crucial double. On the mound, Seth Lugo looked sharp, retiring 18 batters in a row. Unfortunately, Daniel Lynch IV took the loss, but every game has its highs and lows.

As for our "big dill" pick of the day, it has to be Salvador Perez. His mammoth home run was an absolute game-changer and a testament to his prowess at the plate. He's not just a big dill for today—he's a big deal anytime he steps into the batter's box.

Before we wrap up, some quick notes on player news: Royals pitcher Kyle Wright is recovering from a shoulder issue, allowing four runs in a rehab start. Meanwhile, Noah Cameron also faced some bumps on Saturday with Triple-A Omaha. Looking ahead, Royals' lefty Kris Bubic is set to take the mound on Tuesday night at home against Tampa Bay.

That’s all for this episode, folks. The Royals are in a bit of a slump now with a 38-39 record, but hey, that's baseball. Thanks for tuning into Big Dill Sports. Keep swinging for the fences, and until next time, I'm Dillon, signing off. Stay sporty!