Royals seize on throwing error in 10th to beat Nationals 1-0 and hold on to 2nd AL wild card

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Isbel snapped Kansas City's 27-inning scoreless streak by sprinting home on a throwing error in the 10th inning, Cole Ragans gave up three hits in six innings, and the Royals held on to the second American League wild card with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

Isbel, the Royals' automatic runner to begin the 10th, reached third on Bobby Witt Jr.’s infield single to short and crossed the plate on Nasim Nuñez's low throw to first to end Kansas City's seven-game slide.

“It’s a little bit of a sigh of relief," Ragans said. “We knew it’s going to come down to probably a game like this to get us back on track.”

Kansas City and Detroit are both 83-74 but the Royals own the head-to-head tiebreaker. Both teams are two games up on Minnesota.

After three games without a hit with a runner in scoring position, the Royals were 2 for 11 in that situation Tuesday, though neither plated a run.

“There’s definitely frustration, but I think tonight it was more like, disbelief,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “We know we’re too good a team to have that continue for a long period of time.”

Kyle Finnegan (3-7) escaped the 10th without further damage, but the Nationals lost for the seventh time in eight games.

“Our defense was good until that one play,” said Nats manager Dave Martinez. “It really came down to one play, and execution, and not being able to hit the ball.”

Lucas Erceg worked a clean 10th for his 12th save and ninth with the Royals, striking out Joey Gallo for the final out after the Nationals slugger hooked a 3-2 offering just to the foul side of the right-field foul pole.

"You can never count your chickens there that you’re going to strand the runner," Quatraro said of Erceg, whom Kansas City acquired in a trade from Oakland at this year's deadline. “But you certainly like your chances.”

Ragans struck out six in his fourth consecutive outing of six innings or more to lower his September ERA to 1.08.

Kris Bubic stranded a runner on third in the seventh, Sam Long pitched a scoreless eighth and Angel Zerpa (2-0) threw a perfect ninth to get the game to extra innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: RHP Hunter Harvey (back) will be shut down for the season. The reliever hasn't appeared since Aug. 4, and will get another medical opinion. “He's going to go see someone in Dallas to see if they can find something different, but by all accounts, we think it's just going to be rest” that he needs, said Quatraro. ... RHP James McArthur (right elbow), who last pitched on Sept. 16, also won't return this season. ... RHP Michael Lorenzen (left hamstring) remains on track to return from the injured list to make Wednesday’s start, Quatraro said.

Nationals: Recalled OF Stone Garrett from Triple-A Rochester and placed INF Andrés Chaparro on the paternity list.

UP NEXT

Lorenzen (7-6, 3.43 ERA) will try to continue his excellent form since joining the Royals from Texas at the deadline. He has a 1.85 ERA and 2-0 record in five starts with Kansas City. He'll face rookie lefty DJ Herz (4-8, 4.30).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel, top, and second baseman Michael Massey, bottom, lunge for a fly ball hit for a double by Washington Nationals' Jacob Young during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) and relief pitcher Lucas Erceg (60) celebrate after a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel, left, and second baseman Michael Massey, right, tumble after they tried for a fly ball hit for a double by Washington Nationals' Jacob Young during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Lucas Erceg throws during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez throws to first to put out Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. gestures near first base after he singled during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. takes a lead from first base during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals left fielder Tommy Pham (22) makes a catch on a fly ball by Washington Nationals' Luis Garcia Jr. for an out during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia throws to first to put out Washington Nationals' James Wood during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel runs towards home to score on a throwing error by Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez during the 10th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

ATLANTA (AP) — Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor missed his eighth straight game with back discomfort Tuesday night but was on deck to pinch hit when New York made the final out of a 5-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor “could be in play" for Wednesday — although heavy rain is in the forecast.

Prior to the opener of a critical three-game series, Lindor spoke with reporters wearing a heavy heat wrap on his back and said he would work out before the game to determine if he was healthy enough to come off the bench. Lindor had a bone scan Monday that revealed no structural damage to his back, which he said meant there would likely be no further threat of injury if he tried to play.

“He’s going to try to push it again and he’s going to let me know if he is available for today or not,” Mendoza said before the game. “That was the case on Sunday, and after the workout, he said he was not there yet. He's going to be very honest with us. He's not going to put himself at risk or the team at risk.”

Lindor has played only one inning in the past 10 games. But the Mets went 6-1 without him on a homestand that ended Sunday and they hold one of three National League wild cards with five games remaining in a tight race that also includes San Diego, Arizona and Atlanta.

Lindor said he would be willing to return as a designated hitter if the team felt that was best. He said he needs to get to the point where if he feels pain while playing, it does not linger.

“It is more important for me that the pain comes, and then goes,” Lindor said. “Before, when I hit the ball and started running, it wasn’t letting go. It can’t be that constant, I can’t move, I can’t move, I can’t move. That will put me in a spot where I can’t do what I need to do.”

Rookie infielder Luisangel Acuña has replaced Lindor at shortstop and fared well, batting .375 with three home runs since being called up from the minors on Sept. 14.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor sits in the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor sits in the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)