Kansas City Royals’ MLB-best win streak ended by the Philadelphia Phillies

The Kansas City Royals’ seven-game and at times history-making win streak is over.

The Royals put up a valiant effort against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night. However, the Phillies got just enough offense to prevail with an 9-6 victory in front of a sold-out crowd of 42,326.

And there weren’t just fireworks on offense, as Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected following a questionable strike call in the ninth.

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner rebounded from a recent slump. He received a standing ovation after hitting .218 in July. Turner blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning.

It was his 11th home run this season as he gave a curtain call to the fans. In the eighth inning, Turner added his fourth RBI of the game. He doubled off Royals reliever Angel Zerpa, who recently returned from injury, as the Phillies took a three-run lead.

The Royals tried to keep pace. KC recovered from an early two-run deficit as catcher Freddy Fermin hit two home runs. It was the first multi-home run game of his MLB career.

“The two homers from Freddy kept us in it,” Quatraro said.

KC also added four runs against Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez. However, the Royals bullpen faltered down the stretch. Zerpa and fellow reliever Tucker Davidson allowed six runs in four innings of relief.

“Sanchez was throwing a Bugs Bunny changeup there that we were struggling with early,” Quatraro said. “Then we started to make a little bit of an adjustment. It was a really good inning and used our speed in the fifth. They just beat us with the long ball.”

Royals starter Alec Marsh allowed three runs in four innings of work. He threw 66 pitches, including 14 called strikes and eight whiffs.

The Royals fell to 36-76. Both teams will look to win the series in Sunday’s rubber match after the Royals took an exciting Game 1.

More Royals coverage:

Bobby Baseball: Royals reflect on Bobby Witt Jr.’s historic Friday night

Rare Streak: The Royals are winning in ways not seen since the 1907 season

Here are more notables from Saturday’s game:

Royals manufacture four runs in fifth inning

The Royals found success against Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez. In the fifth inning, KC scored four runs to chase Sanchez from the game.

Royals outfielder Samad Taylor flashed his talent to begin the inning with a lead-off triple. Taylor crushed a 91-mph sinker to the deepest part of Citizens Bank Park. He sped around the bases and came just short of his first MLB home run.

The Royals were in business. Outfielder Drew Waters recorded a walk and speedster Dairon Blanco collected an RBI bunt single. KC tied the score at 3-3.

“Blanco is a great bunter, and our speed was a huge part of that inning,” Quatraro said. “Just the fact we put good at-bats together to put the pressure on (Sanchez) after struggling to get to him in the earlier part of the game, was nice to see.”

Royals infielders Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr., who has been red hot as of late, also collected RBIs. Garcia later stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.

Sanchez allowed six earned runs and struck out seven batters in five innings of work.

KC took a 6-3 lead before the Phillies came roaring back to win the game.

Dairon Blanco shines with defensive highlight

The Phillies might think twice when deciding to challenge Royals outfielder Dairon Blanco. In the first inning, Blanco threw out Phillies star Bryce Harper at home plate.

Harper attempted to score following a two-out single. He rounded third base and looked to beat Blanco’s throw. However, Blanco shifted his weight and threw a strike to Fermin that met Harper at the plate.

Fermin applied the tag to end the inning. Blanco recorded his third outfield assist of the season, which moved him into a third-place tie on the team.

“I read it good, and I attacked the ball as it left the bat,” Blanco said through a translator. “It was a perfect throw and it got him out.”

It was another notable performance from a young player who nearly hit for the cycle earlier this season.

The Royals lead the majors with 26 outfield assists.

What’s next: The Royals conclude their three-game series against the Phillies. Zack Greinke draws the start against Taijuan Walker on Sunday afternoon.