The Royals shut out the Orioles and win Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series

BALTIMORE – Bobby Witt Jr. made the most of his highly anticipated playoff debut, driving in the only run to back up Cole Ragans' six sharp innings on Tuesday, keeping the Kansas City Royals 1-1 in nine years Absence to help return after the season. 0 win over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series.

Witt, the 24-year-old shortstop who led the majors this season with 211 hits and a .332 batting average, hit a 95 mph first-pitch cutter from 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes two outs single to left field in the sixth. Maikel Garcia came in after a walk, stole second – Burnes allowed runners to hit 41 bases this season, a major league high – and moved to third with a groundout.

Shortly after Witt delivered, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted on social media: “Let’s go!! Keep it up!!! @Royals”

They couldn't extend their lead any further, but that didn't matter thanks to Ragans, who was just as good, if not better, than Burnes before retiring after 80 pitches due to left calf cramps and a bullpen that was KC's weakness during the regular season, but on Tuesday it was more than good.

Sam Long, Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg, who earned the save, shut down the Orioles the rest of the way.

The Royals lost 106 games last season, but with a 30-win improvement they are back in October for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series.

Now they can wrap up this best-of-three series and advance to an AL Division Series against the New York Yankees by winning Game 2 in Baltimore on Wednesday when KC sends All-Star Seth Lugo to the mound. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he would not announce his starter until after Tuesday's game, although it was expected to be Zach Eflin.

Baltimore has lost its last nine postseason games, a loss that dates back to 2014.

Ragans, a lefty All-Star acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers last season, put in a great performance, combining a 98 mph fastball with a variety of off-speed offerings only allowed four hits and scored eight goals.

Burnes looked exactly how Baltimore hoped he would be when he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in February. The AL's All-Star starter this season received a standing ovation from the orange-clad fans at Camden Yards after he gave up a leadoff single in the ninth. He allowed 1 run, 5 hits and that 1 key walk.

The right-hander became the first starter to throw a pitch in the ninth inning of a postseason game since Washington star Stephen Strasburg in Game 6 of the 2019 World Series against Houston.

But Baltimore's hitters — the team's 232 home runs trailed only the Yankees in 2024 — couldn't prevail.

The Orioles put a runner on third in the third, but Jordan Westburg flied out to the warning track to left. The hosts then put men on the corners with one out in the fifth, but Ragans struck out James McCann and 2023 AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson to end that threat.

And in the eighth, Erceg replaced Bubic with a pair on and two outs and got Anthony Santander to run into a fielder's choice.

Trainer's room

Royals: 1B Vinnie Pasquantino came off the injured list for this series after being sidelined since Aug. 29 with a broken right thumb, and he found himself in his usual third spot in the starting lineup as DH. He won't be able to play on the field for the next two to three weeks – if KC stays in the postseason. Pasquantino scored 0-3 on Tuesday.

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Lugo (16-9, 3.00 ERA) will make the first postseason start of his career. “Something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” he said.

Eflin went 10-9 with a combined ERA of 3.59 in 2024 for Tampa Bay and Baltimore.