CINCINNATI (AP) – Rookie Heath Fillmyer struck out a career-high nine, Adalberto Mondesi tripled, stole two bases and scored twice, and the Kansas City Royals wrapped up their 2018 road schedule with a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
Whit Merrifield, who went into the game tied for the American League lead in hits and leading in stolen bases, extended his season-high hitting streak to 16 games with a third-inning single. He also stole two bases.
Alex Gordon tacked on a solo home run to help Kansas City to a third straight win and fourth in its last five games.
The only run Fillmyer allowed was Jose Peraza’s 14th homer in the first inning. Fillmyer (4-2) retired 11 straight batters in one stretch against a Cincinnati team that has scored three or fewer runs in 13 of its last 14 games. He allowed four hits and two walks while tying his career high with 7 1/3 innings.
Fillmyer also chipped in to the Kansas City offense with his first major league hit and RBI with a sixth-inning double.
The Royals finished with a 26-55 road record. They need one win in their last four games to avoid matching their single-season record of 106 losses, set in 2005.
The Reds have lost five straight games, all to teams with worse records, and six of their last seven.
After lasting six innings in his previous start, a win at Miami, Reds starter Cody Reed (1-3) could manage just 3 2/3, giving up six hits and three runs with two walks and two strikeouts.
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Royals: RHP Glenn Sparkman (0-3) makes his fourth start in the opener of a season-ending, four-game series against division champion Cleveland.
Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (7-7), originally scheduled to start on Saturday, was moved up to start Friday against Pittsburgh in place of RHP Luis Castillo, who was shut down for the season.
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