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 "Royals Recap!" I’m Dillon, your host here at Big Dill Sports, where we dive into the latest and greatest from the Kansas City Royals. Today, we're breaking down the season finale—a commanding 9-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
The Royals wrapped up 2025 with an 82–80 record, marking their second straight winning season. Despite missing the playoffs, they're showing real promise heading into the offseason. Manager Matt Quatraro’s team ended the season strong, just six games shy of the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.
Now, let’s get into the action, inning by inning. Kansas City kicked things off in the second with Carter Jensen leading the charge. After a single and some strategic plays, Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia brought in the runs, giving the Royals an early lead. By the fourth inning, they were up 3–0, thanks again to Massey and Garcia capitalizing on an error by the Athletics.
The excitement didn’t stop there—Massey continued his stellar performance, driving in another run in the fifth to extend the lead. But the real fireworks started in the seventh inning. Power surged through the lineup as Mike Yastrzemski and Jensen hit back-to-back solo homers. Jensen's 482-foot blast set a new franchise record in the Statcast era! Bobby Witt Jr. added to the spectacle with a two-run double, cementing Kansas City’s commanding lead.
Pitching was another highlight. Cole Ragans set the tone with a solid 4.1 innings, striking out eight. Daniel Lynch IV relieved him and delivered perfection—earning the win with a lights-out 2.1 innings. Despite a minor hiccup, the bullpen held strong, with Luinder Avila closing out the game.
Offensively, Carter Jensen was on fire, notching three hits, while Michael Massey had a season-high four hits with multiple RBIs. Yastrzemski’s two homers pushed his season total to 17, and Bobby Witt Jr. continued to lead the league in doubles.
Now, I have to award this episode’s 'big dill' title to Carter Jensen. His record-breaking homer and overall performance were spectacular and a glimpse of what’s to come for the Royals.
As the Royals head into the offseason, there's an air of optimism. With a core of emerging talent and clear momentum, the team is poised for exciting possibilities in 2026. Whether it's refining the rotation or reinforcing the bullpen, the potential for a playoff-worthy season is there.
Thanks for tuning in to Big Dill Sports. Keep your eyes on this Royals team—they're growing into something special. Until next time, stay passionate about the game!
## Season Finale Recap and Record
The Kansas City Royals closed out their 2025 regular season on September 29 with a commanding 9–2 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Sacramento, finishing with an 82–80 record for the second straight year and recording back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2014–15 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Despite the strong finish, Manager Matt Quatraro’s squad fell short of a postseason berth, ending six games behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and five games out of the final American League Wild Card spot ([abc17news.com](https://abc17news.com/sports/kansas-city-royals/2025/09/29/royals-clinch-series-win-over-athletics-to-end-season/)). The win secured series victories against each of their final three opponents and provided momentum heading into the offseason ([abc17news.com](https://abc17news.com/sports/kansas-city-royals/2025/09/29/royals-clinch-series-win-over-athletics-to-end-season/)).
## Early Offense and Inning-by-Inning Breakdown
Kansas City struck first in the second inning. Carter Jensen led off with a single and advanced to second on an Adam Frazier groundout. Michael Massey followed with an RBI single, and Maikel Garcia brought home the third run of the frame via a sacrifice fly after a bases-loaded walk by John Rave ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). In the fourth inning, Massey’s second single of the game scored Frazier on an error by Athletics first baseman JJ Bleday, and Garcia’s subsequent single drove in Massey, pushing the lead to 3–0 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Kansas City tacked on another run in the fifth when Massey singled home a runner, extending the advantage to 4–0 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)).
## Power Display in the Late Innings
The Royals’ offense exploded in the seventh inning, beginning with back-to-back solo homers by Mike Yastrzemski and Carter Jensen. Yastrzemski’s blast marked his 16th home run of the season, while Jensen launched a 482-foot shot—the longest home run by a Royal in the Statcast era and Jensen’s third homer of 2025 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Later in the same inning, Bobby Witt Jr. laced a two-run double, his MLB-leading 47th double and 183rd hit of the year, to stretch Kansas City’s lead to 7–0 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Yastrzemski added a second solo shot in the eighth inning—his 17th of the season—ice the game at 9–0 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)).
## Pitching Performance Breakdown
Starter Cole Ragans delivered another strong outing, working 4.1 innings on a 72-pitch count. He allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out eight, demonstrating his strikeout prowess despite limited pitch volume ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). After Ragans exited, Steven Cruz struggled to navigate a bases-loaded jam in the fifth but earned a key strikeout to limit the damage. Daniel Lynch IV then came on and punched out Nick Kurtz to end the threat, ultimately earning the win after tossing 2.1 perfect innings with three strikeouts ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Sam Long surrendered a two-run homer in his lone inning of work, while Luinder Avila closed out the ninth with a scoreless frame to seal the victory ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)).
## Offensive Standouts and Statistical Notes
Carter Jensen finished with a three-hit performance, including the towering 482-foot homer that set the Statcast-era record for the franchise ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Michael Massey recorded a season-high four hits, driving in multiple runs and setting the tone with his two early RBI singles ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). Mike Yastrzemski’s multi-homer game boosted his season total to 17, while Bobby Witt Jr.’s two-run double underlined his league-leading mark in doubles and reinforced his status as one of the most consistent offensive producers in baseball ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)).
## Outlook and Offseason Momentum
The decisive victory carried more weight than just a season-ender—it showcased the Royals’ offensive depth and emerging young talent, providing optimism for the 2026 campaign ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)). With back-to-back winning records and standout individual seasons from Carter Jensen, Michael Massey, Cole Ragans, and Daniel Lynch IV, Kansas City has a foundation upon which to build. As the front office evaluates offseason needs—particularly in bolstering the rotation and pen—the momentum generated by Sunday’s performance offers a promising springboard toward a potential playoff return in 2026 ([royalsreview.com](https://www.royalsreview.com/2025-royals-game-recaps/88255/royals-crush-athletics-9-2-win-2025-finale)).
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