{
  "id": 1616571,
  "title": "Bobby Witt Jr. homers and scores 4 runs in the Royals' 9-5 win over the Athletics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/bobby-witt-jr-homers-and-scores-4-runs-in-the-royals-9-5-win-over-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T02:45:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bobby-witt-jr-homers-scores-024550468.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Monday night, the Kansas City Royals secured a convincing 9-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Bobby Witt Jr., the Kansas City outfielder, played a pivotal role in the win, contributing with a 15th home run of the year. His powerful blast was estimated to have traveled 390 feet to left-center field, giving the Royals a substantial 5-1 lead. Witt didn't stop there, as he added an RBI double in the eighth inning, propelling the Royals further ahead.\n\nThe Royals' relentless offense started to take shape even before the game had begun. When Jeff McNeil made it 1-0 with a first-pitch homer, the Royals quickly responded. Maikel Garcia drove in the first run with an RBI single, and Salvador Perez added another run with a two-run single, making the score 3-1.\n\nJac Quinton hit two more RBI singles for the Royals, one in the sixth inning and another in the eighth, pushing the lead to 9-4. Kyle Isbel also added a run to the count, bringing the score to 9-5.\n\nThe Athletics made a valiant effort to close the gap, with Michael Wacha (6-8) pitching the first five innings for the Royals. However, he gave up six hits, four earned runs, and struck out three. Steven Cruz saved the day for the Royals, securing his fourth save of the season and pitching the team out of a potential disaster after Lucas Erceg failed to record an out, loading the bases.\n\nTommy White and Brian Serven both contributed to the Athletics' rally, each hitting home runs in the fifth inning. White's solo shot traveled 401 feet into left center, while Serven's two-run homer cut the Royals' lead to 6-4.\n\nMason Barnett (1-3) pitched 2 2/3 innings for the Athletics, giving up seven hits and six earned runs. He walked four batters and struck out two. The Athletics will look to bounce back with starting pitcher Jack Perkins (2-9, 7.27 ERA) facing the Royals on Tuesday, starting opposite Daniel Lynch IV (4-4, 2.88).",
  "summary": "Bobby Witt Jr. had a two-run homer, an RBI double and scored four times, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 9-5 victory over the Athletics on Monday night. Witt's 15th home run of the year was an estimated 390 feet to left-center field to give Kansas City a 5-1 lead. After falling behind when Jeff McNeil homered on the first pitch of the game, the Royals went ahead when Maikel Garcia hit an RBI…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Bobby Witt Jr. homers and scores 4 runs in the Royals’ 9-5 win over the Athletics",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/bobby-witt-jr-homers-and-scores-4-runs-in-the-royals-9-5-win-over-the-1622322",
        "published": "2026-08-18T02:46:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}