Royals Walk Off Again, Pirates' Skid Hits Five

Nick Loftin led the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, hitting a two-run homer in the seventh and a game-winning RBI single in the ninth. Rookie Jac Caglianone added his first extra-base hit at Kauffman Stadium with a 421-foot solo home run, while Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz, newly named to the Home Run Derby, responded with a 458-foot homer. The Pirates briefly led with homers from Nick Gonzales and an RBI grounder from Bryan Reynolds, but failed to convert late chances, extending their road losing streak to five games. Both starters, Mitch Keller and Seth Lugo, who are potential trade candidates, gave up just one run each through six innings. The Royals have now won five of their last six games and achieved back-to-back multi-homer games for the first time this season, staying competitive in the AL Wild Card race. The series concludes Wednesday with the Pirates still searching for a win on their nine-game road trip.