Royals Defeat Reds 7-1 in Opener

The Kansas City Royals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-1, with Bobby Witt Jr. leading the charge by hitting his 25th home run and raising his batting average to a league-best .352. Michael Lorenzen, making his third start since joining the Royals, pitched 5.2 innings, allowing just one run and securing his first win since the trade. The Royals showcased a strong offensive performance, scoring four runs in the final three innings, including a three-run homer by Vinnie Pasquantino in the ninth. This victory snapped the Reds' four-game winning streak and improved the Royals to 2-2 on their road trip, with their magic number for playoffs now at 39. Both teams are dealing with injuries, as the Royals have John Schreiber on a rehab assignment and the Reds' Brent Suter remains sidelined. The series continues with Michael Wacha set to pitch for Kansas City against Nick Lodolo for Cincinnati.