PHOENIX, Apr. 25 \u2014 Brady Singer<\/a><\/strong> tossed six one-run, five-hit innings to lead the Kansas City Royals<\/a> past the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a>, 5\u20134, despite a valiant late comeback attempt. Scott Barlow<\/a><\/strong> pitched 1 2\/3 scoreless relief innings to close the game for the Royals, who survived a big night from rookie Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong>. Carroll was a home run short of the cycle, also scoring two runs and stealing two bases.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had that comeback two-seamer,\u201d Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong> said of Singer. Lovullo added, \u201cI feel like our left-handers got bullied in there a little bit. They started to get a little worried, and he started having an effective changeup off that two-seam fastball.\u201d<\/p>\n Singer, who had an effective start against the Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> April 3, had been lit up in his last three starts. On April 8 against the San Francisco Giants<\/a> in a road game, he allowed five runs on eight hits across six innings. The Atlanta Braves<\/a> shelled him on April 14, clubbing ten hits and four homers while scoring eight runs across five innings. His last start, against the Texas Rangers<\/a> on April 19, saw him give up five runs on six hits while walking three over five innings. But against the Diamondbacks, he picked up where he left off on August 24, 2022, when he last faced them. In that game, he allowed one run on four hits in seven innings.<\/p>\n The Royals opened the scoring in the top of the first off Ryne Nelson<\/a><\/strong>. Shortstop Bobby Witt<\/a><\/strong> Jr. led off with a single to left and advanced to third on a one-out single to left by catcher Salvador Perez<\/a><\/strong>. Left fielder Edward Olivares<\/a><\/strong> followed with a third single to left, plating Witt with the first run of the game. Nelson struck out second baseman Michael Massey<\/a><\/strong> and retired the side when designated hitter Franmil Reyes<\/a><\/strong> grounded into a 6\u20134 force play. In a recent trend with Diamondbacks starters, Nelson had a long first inning \u2014 27 pitches, 18 strikes. Singer retired the Diamondbacks in order in the bottom of the first.<\/p>\n Kyle Isbel<\/a><\/strong> led off the second with double off the left-field wall. Two batters later, he tried to steal third, but Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong> gunned him down. An infield single by third baseman Nicky Lopez<\/a><\/strong> kept the inning alive for the Royals, but it ended with a whimper on a fly to the second baseman in shallow right by Witt.<\/p>\n The Royals extended their lead in the top of the fourth. With two outs, right fielder Hunter Dozier<\/a><\/strong> doubled to center. He scored on a follow-up single to center by Lopez, making the score 2\u20130. The Diamondbacks slashed the lead in half in the bottom of the inning. Carroll led off with a deep drive high off the wall in center, slamming on the brakes at third for a triple. He scored when Walker followed with a grounder to second. Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/a><\/strong> doubled to the left-field corner but was left stranded. After Smith popped to second, Moreno smashed a low liner toward right, threatening to tie the game. However, a leaping Vinnie Pasquantino<\/strong><\/a> snatched it out of the air, ending the inning with the Royals leading, 2\u20131.<\/p>\n The Royals made it a 4\u20131 game in the top of the fifth on three straight one-out hits and a sacrifice fly. Perez started the rally with a single to left and advanced to third on a hustle double to shallow center by Olivares. Massey scored Perez with a single that also advanced Olivares to third. Reyes belted a deep drive to center, where Alek Thomas<\/a><\/strong> made a leaping catch at the wall. It robbed Reyes of a double but was still a sacrifice fly, as Olivares had no trouble scoring on the tagup.<\/p>\n Nelson left the game after five. He allowed four runs on eleven hits while walking none and striking out three. Lovullo said he was \u201cin a little bit of a fistfight all day.\u201d He added, \u201c(Nelson) was battling the command of his secondary stuff. I thought he got into a good rhythm with his fastball. When he spotted up, I thought he was in charge of the at-bat.\u201d<\/p>\nRoyals Score Early, Diamondbacks Try to Play Catch-up<\/h3>\n
More Scoring<\/h3>\n
Diamondbacks Cut Lead but Royals Get Run Back<\/h3>\n