It was a night of comebacks for the KC Royals, as they defeated the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 11th inning, the Brewers made a pitching change and brought in Jose Veras with Mike Moustakas strolling to the plate. Veras needed just five pitches to walk Moose and force in the winning run. Unfortunately, less than 20,000 fans were in attendance for the thrilling finish.

After watching the Brewers score a run in the top of the 9th inning to take a 3-1 lead (with the run scoring on a throwing error), the Royals came back to tie the game at 3-3 against Brewers closer John Axford. With one out, Eric Hosmer walked. With two outs, Moose walked. Alcides Escobar followed with a two-run triple to tie the game. Clint Robinson pinch-hit with the chance to win the game and pick up his first big league hit and RBI, but struck out to send the game into extra innings.

The Royals had another 1-0 lead after the first inning thanks to a Billy Butler RBI ground out (Alex Gordon led off the inning with a double).

Jonathan Sanchez returned from the DL and still hasn’t pitched six innings this season, but at least he pitched well. He allowed one run on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four. Meanwhile, Brewers starter Randy Wolf was also solid. He only allowed that first inning run over seven innings. Wolf allowed six hits and two walks.

The Royals and Brewers finish up the series on Thursday, with Luke Hochevar taking the hill against the Brewers’ Shaun Marcum.

*With Sanchez coming off the DL, reliever Louis Coleman was sent back to Triple-A.

**Manager Ned Yost was named to Ron Washington’s American League coaching staff for the All-Star Game that the Royals are hosting this July. I’m sure that’s the only reason that Yost is on the coaching staff because the team’s record (25-34) has him undeserving.

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After being swept in Pittsburgh, the KC Royals returned home to continue Interleague Play and welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to Kauffman Stadium for a three-game series beginning today (Tuesday).

With the loss of Prince Fielder this offseason, the Brewers find themselves in fourth place (28-32) in the National League Central. They have a sputtering offense, which is one of the worst in baseball. Their .240 team batting average ranks 25th overall (though the Royals were just swept by the second-worst offense in the game).

The power is still there, as the Brewers have hit 71 homeruns (compared to just 44 for the Royals). But they strike out at an alarming rate (486 in 2018 at-bats), whereas the Royals have struck out the least amount in baseball (355 in 1999 at-bats).

Tuesday: Luis Mendoza (2-3, 5.36 ERA) vs. Zack Greinke (7-2, 3.13 ERA)

With Felipe Paulino on the DL, the Royals are giving Mendoza another crack at the rotation. Hopefully he can show some signs of the guy who dominated in spring training.

The Royals welcome back Greinke for the first time since trading him away. He has been awful on the road for the Brewers, but Kauffman Stadium is like a second home for him.

Wednesday: Luke Hochevar (3-7, 6.57 ERA) vs. Randy Wolf (2-5, 5.45 ERA)

Both of these pitchers pitched well in their last start. However both have struggled this season and could easily be lit up. Look for a possible power surge for the Royals, as Wolf gives up the long ball (though he’s only given up six so far this season).

Thursday: TBA vs Shaun Marcum (5-3, 3.50 ERA)

Will we see the return of Jonathan Sanchez from the DL? I hope not, but I’m not sure what else the Royals could throw out there (maybe Nate Adcock).

Marcum has won three straight starts and is having yet another solid first half. He has gone at least six innings in every start but three (but those he lasted at least five innings). In 12 starts, he has only given up four or more runs three times and he lost two of those games.