Royals match worst loss ever after falling 19-1 against Cleveland

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Just when you thought the Royals were too talented to get blown out at home, they surprise their fans with one of their worst meltdowns of all time. Kansas City entered Monday’s home game against Cleveland one game over 500. But you wouldn’t know it after the result.

The Indians had a season-high 20 hits and blew out the Royals 19-1 at Kauffman Stadium. The 18-run margin of defeat tied a record in the 43-history of the Royals franchise. The Royals lost that bad only two other times. They fell 21-3 against Oakland at home on June 18, 2000 and 19-1 against Minnesota at Kauffman Stadium on July 26, 2010.

Royals relief pitcher Vin Mazzaro put himself in the record book as pitching the worst game in Royals history. The 25-year-old Mazzaro gave up 14 earned runs on 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings.

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The right-hander became the third major league pitcher since 1947 to allow 14 runs in a game. The old Royals’ record for runs allowed was 11, which had been done three times.

The Royals didn’t waste any time in sending Mazzaro out of Kansas City and back to the minors. They optioned Mazzaro to Class AAA Omaha after the loss and replaced him by recalling left-handed pitcher Everett Teaford. He had been a relief pitcher.

The Indians had their biggest offensive performance since scoring 22 runs at New York on April 18, 2009. Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer and Travis Hafner hit a double with the bases loaded in a 10-run fourth inning for Cleveland.

Mazzaro gave up 10 earned runs in the fourth. He allowed four more in the fifth before leaving the game. The Indians sent 13 batters to the plate in the fourth.

The pitching concerns started in the first inning. Starting pitcher Kyle Davies had to leave after walking the bases full in the first. He faced just four hitters and retired only one batter. The Royals said Davies would have an MRI for soreness in the front of his right shoulder.

Davies took the loss and fell to 1-6. He was charged with two runs after Nate Adcock allowed a two-run single to Orlando Cabrera.

Brantley and Matt LaPorta each had four RBIs. Hafner and Cabrera each had three RBIs. LaPorta made it on base five times with a walk and four hits. The Indians drew eight walks in the game.

The Royals fell to 20-20, dropping them down to .500 for the first time since they were 1-1. Kansas City has lost three in a row and trails first-place Cleveland by six games in the American League Central. The Indians are 25-13.

Kansas City is back in action on Tuesday night when they host Cleveland at 7:10 p.m. CT in the series finale. The Royals then host a two-game series on Wednesday against Texas before starting a three-game home series Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.