Royals Recap
Hosted by Big Dill
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: Kansas City Royals daily updates. If they played a game yesterday give me the highlights.
Transcript
Welcome to Big Dill Sports! I'm Dillon, your host, and today we're diving into an electrifying game between the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Monday, July 7, 2025, the Royals wowed their home crowd at Kauffman Stadium, cruising to a 9-3 victory. Let's break down the action!
The Royals found themselves in an early 2-1 hole after Tommy Pham’s massive homer in the third inning. But what a turnaround it was! Kansas City’s lineup decided it was home run derby time, blasting four separate shots that flipped the script completely.
Rookie standout Noah Cameron put on a masterclass from the mound. He pitched seven strong innings, his best outing yet, striking out seven and giving up only three hits. After Pham's homer, not another hit was allowed. Talk about command!
The Royals’ bullpen backed Cameron’s efforts, with Steven Cruz retiring the side in the eighth and Jonathan Bowlan securing the game, surrendering only a single run in the ninth. On the flip side, Pittsburgh’s Andrew Heaney had a tough time, yielding three homers in just three innings.
The offensive fireworks began with Vinnie Pasquantino, who launched his 15th homer of the season to give the Royals an early edge. Although Pham briefly tilted the scales for the Pirates, Kansas City quickly regained control. Maikel Garcia tied it up, and Salvador Perez knocked in the go-ahead run, with Mark Canha wrapping up a three-run third inning.
Bobby Witt Jr. added flair with a two-run homer in the fourth, and later a sacrifice fly, contributing significantly to the Royals’ lead. Perez wasn't done either, smashing his 11th home run, and Nick Loftin joined the party with a solo shot in the eighth.
Spotlight on the stars: Bobby Witt Jr. was a force, going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. Salvador Perez delivered power, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Vinnie Pasquantino and Nick Loftin added their own homers, and let's not forget Maikel Garcia, who was clutch with timely hits.
On the mound, Noah Cameron shines as today’s 'big dill', showing poise and precision that led the Royals to victory. With this win, Kansas City moves to 44–48, inching closer in the division race.
Looking ahead, veteran Seth Lugo takes the mound Tuesday, squaring off against Mitch Keller. The Royals are on a mission, and with the trade deadline approaching, they might be eyeing further moves.
That's it for today’s episode of Big Dill Sports. I’m Dillon, and I can’t wait to catch up with you next time for more thrilling sports action. Until then, keep swinging for the fences!
#### Game Recap
On Monday, July 7, 2025, the Kansas City Royals flexed their power in a 9–3 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Kauffman Stadium. After falling behind 2–1 in the third inning on Tommy Pham’s two-run homer, the Royals erupted for eight unanswered runs behind four separate home runs that turned a deficit into a commanding lead. Rookie starter Noah Cameron delivered his best outing of the season, while Kansas City’s lineup punctuated the victory with homers by Vinnie Pasquantino, Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Nick Loftin. Final score: Royals 9, Pirates 3 ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
#### Pitching Performance
Left-hander Noah Cameron (3–4) earned his third win by spinning a season-high seven innings, striking out seven while yielding just three hits, one walk, and two earned runs (both coming on Pham’s blast). Cameron did not allow another hit after Bryan Reynolds’ single to lead off the third, showcasing his developing command and a wipeout curveball that kept Pirate hitters off balance all afternoon. The Royals’ bullpen preserved the lead: Steven Cruz retired all three batters he faced in the eighth, and Jonathan Bowlan slammed the door in the ninth, surrendering only an RBI infield single to Alexander Canario. ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
On the mound for Pittsburgh, Andrew Heaney (4–8) endured a three-home-run barrage over three innings. Heaney tossed 76 pitches, allowing six earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk, surrendering homers to Pasquantino, Witt Jr., and Perez. Pirates reliever Chase Shugart (who surrendered the go-ahead two-run homer to Witt in the fourth) was tagged for one of the Royals’ four long balls, cementing Kansas City’s turnaround on offense. ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
#### Offensive Highlights
The Royals jumped in front in the first inning when Vinnie Pasquantino deposited a two-out pitch from Heaney 378 feet over the right-field wall for his 15th home run of the season, providing an early 1–0 lead. Pittsburgh responded two innings later as Pham crushed a 428-foot two-run shot to center, snapping the Bucs’ 30-inning scoreless skid and briefly putting them on top. However, Kansas City seized control immediately thereafter. Maikel Garcia’s RBI single tied the game at 2–2; Salvador Perez followed with a run-scoring double to give the Royals the lead; and Mark Canha’s RBI forceout capped a three-run inning, turning a 2–1 deficit into a 4–2 advantage by the end of the third. ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Bobby Witt Jr. then unleashed his 13th homer in the fourth inning, a two-run opposite-field shot into the right-center gap off Shugart, stretching the lead to 6–2. Witt later added a sacrifice fly in the sixth, plating Whit Merrifield from third and swelling the lead to 8–2. In the fifth, Perez tacked on his 11th homer, a solo shot to left-center. Nick Loftin provided the cherry on top with his second big-league homer, a solo blast in the eighth, before the Pirates tallied a final insurance run in the ninth. ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [mlb.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/gamestory-777204?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
#### Player Statistics
• Bobby Witt Jr. went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBIs, a home run, and a sacrifice fly, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and driving in the bulk of Kansas City’s offense ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• Salvador Perez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs (a double and a homer), showcasing his power and clutch hitting ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• Vinnie Pasquantino (1-for-4, HR, RBI) and Nick Loftin (2-for-4, HR, RBI) each contributed homeruns, while Maikel Garcia (2-for-3, RBI) added timely contact hitting ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• On the pitching side, Cameron’s seven innings of two-run ball (7 K, 1 BB) earned the victory, improved to a 3–4 mark, and marked the longest outing of his rookie season ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
#### Standings and Implications
The win improved the Royals to 44–48 overall and 21–24 at home, pulling them within 14 games of the American League Central–leading Detroit Tigers (58–34) and one game behind the Minnesota Twins in the division chase. The Pirates fell to 38–54 (12–33 on the road), remaining at the bottom of the NL Central. Kansas City’s offense, which averaged fewer home runs in June than they launched in this single contest, showed signs of life just ahead of the All-Star break and the trade deadline. ([kshb.com](https://www.kshb.com/sports/bombs-away-royals-hit-four-home-runs-in-win-over-pirates?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
#### Looking Ahead
The Royals will send veteran right-hander Seth Lugo (6–5, 2.65 ERA) to the mound Tuesday against Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller (3–10, 3.64 ERA), looking to build on Monday’s momentum and climb back toward .500. With the trade deadline looming in less than three weeks, Kansas City’s front office may be gauging pitching support and evaluating their young talent—especially after a statement offensive performance highlighted by multiple long balls at Kauffman Stadium. ([kctv5.com](https://www.kctv5.com/2025/07/08/royals-slug-4-home-runs-back-camerons-strong-start-beat-pirates-9-3/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401696268?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
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