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Royals Rout Rays 12-5 as Caglianone Ties AL Homer Lead

6/24/2026

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Summary

Caglianone Powers Royals

Kansas City Royals beat Tampa Bay Rays 12-5 on June 24, 2026.
Player Jac Caglianone hit a 443-foot solo homer in the first inning and a 416-foot two-run homer in the fifth off pitcher Shane McClanahan.
Caglianone’s two homers gave him nine homers in June, tying player Nick Kurtz for the American League lead.
Catcher Salvador Perez added a two-RBI double in the eighth inning, extending Kansas City’s lead.

Summary

Royals Halt Rally

The Royals turned a six-run double play initiated by Tolbert to end a critical Rays rally.
Salvador Perez threw out Richie Palacios attempting to steal second.
Avila said family and friends were in the stands during his 13th homer.
Noah Cameron (4-4, 4.20 ERA) will start Wednesday at 5:40 p.m. Central versus Griffin Jax (2-5, 3.67 ERA).

Summary

Rojas Extends Lead

Josh Rojas delivered an RBI double in the ninth inning, extending the Royals' lead.
The Royals sit at 34-46 near the AL basement, while the third Wild Card slot belongs to the sub-.500 Toronto Blue Jays, showing odd competitiveness.
Despite the win, the Royals remain well below .500, leaving their playoff prospects dim.
The next game’s first pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m., with pre-game coverage at 5 on KFEQ (680 AM/95.3 FM).

History

Historical Context

The Kansas City Royals broke through in 1985 when they beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 in the “I-70 Series,” clinching their first World Series behind MVP pitcher Bret Saberhagen and a disputed safe call by umpire Don Denkinger. After a 28-year postseason drought, the club resurfaced in 2014-15, yet the 2023 squad sits at a 34-46 record, echoing past swings between triumph and struggle.

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Caglianone Powers Royals

Kansas City Royals beat Tampa Bay Rays 12-5 on June 24, 2026.
Player Jac Caglianone hit a 443-foot solo homer in the first inning and a 416-foot two-run homer in the fifth off pitcher Shane McClanahan.
Caglianone’s two homers gave him nine homers in June, tying player Nick Kurtz for the American League lead.
Catcher Salvador Perez added a two-RBI double in the eighth inning, extending Kansas City’s lead.

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