Royals Edge Nationals 3-0, Maintain Wild Card Spot

The Kansas City Royals secured a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals, bolstered by a strong bullpen performance after starter Michael Lorenzen exited early due to lower body fatigue. Five relievers combined to pitch 6 2/3 innings of two-hit ball, extending the Royals' scoreless streak to a franchise-record 26 innings. Robbie Grossman contributed a two-run single, while Michael Massey added another run, marking the Royals' second consecutive shutout win following a seven-game losing streak. Both Kansas City and Detroit are tied at 84-74, but the Royals maintain the tiebreaker advantage for the second American League wild card. The Nationals suffered their third straight shutout defeat, having lost eight of their last nine games. Manager Davey Martinez acknowledged the pressure on his team, emphasizing the need to relax for future games.