Kansas City Royals had extra-inning drama. Here’s how they walked it off in the 10th

The Cleveland Guardians reached deep into their bag of tricks against the Kansas City Royals. In the 10th inning, Guardians star Jose Ramirez stole home to give the Guardians a late lead.

However, the Royals had one more trick up their sleeve.

Royals catcher Freddy Fermin hit a game-winning two-run double to hand the Royals the victory. Kyle Isbel and Nicky Lopez scored as the Royals salvaged a 4-3 win in the series finale.

Fermin collected his second-career walk-off hit against Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. It was his first since his walk-off single against the Chicago White Sox on May 11.

“I saw the report and I’ve faced him before,” Fermin said. “Just was ready for the cutter and the slider from what he’s got. I was looking for something up and I made a good swing.”

Trailing 2-0 late in Thursday’s game, the Royals made things interesting after Zack Greinke exited his start. Greinke relied on his veteran experience to keep the game close. He allowed 11 hits but limited the Guardians to just two runs.

Greinke worked six innings, issued two walks and did not record a strikeout.

He ran into trouble in the fifth inning. Greinke allowed four hits during his third trip through the Guardians lineup. Ramirez and Josh Bell each collected RBIs in the frame.

“I think there were three extra outs on the bases, which helped,” Greinke said. “They win a lot of games doing that (being aggressive on the bases). It just kind of worked out good for us today.”

But the Royals came back late. KC scored two runs in the eighth inning after Edward Olivares and Nick Pratto recorded consecutive RBIs.

Pratto hit the game-tying single that ultimately sent the game into extra innings. KC scored all four of their runs after the seventh inning.

“We are always going to fight,” Lopez said.

The Royals improved to 23-58. They begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

Missed previous games of the series?

Game 1: Royals falter late in 2-1 loss to Guardians

Game 2: Guardians slug three homers as Royals fall 14-1 at home

Here are more notables from Thursday’s game:

Nick Pratto evens the score

The Royals failed to generate any offensive momentum Thursday afternoon. However, things changed in the eighth inning against Guardians reliever Trevor Stephan.

Stephan allowed two runs in the frame. He walked Matt Duffy and Drew Waters followed with a one-out single. Later, Edward Olivares added a sacrifice-fly RBI.

The Royals cut the deficit to 2-1 and set the stage for some late-game heroics.

After two early strikeouts, Pratto delivered to tie the game. He hit an RBI single to drive home Waters and got Greinke off the hook for the loss.

Pratto snapped an 0-for-12 streak with the single. It was his first career game-tying RBI in the eighth inning or later.

“He tied the game,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We hadn’t done anything all day and to come back in the eighth against a really good reliever is a real nice thing.”

Royals squander two early opportunities

The Royals had few scoring chances against Guardians starter Shane Bieber. But when the opportunities did arise, the Royals failed to take advantage.

In the second inning, MJ Melendez led off with a double. He remained at second base as Maikel Garcia and Kyle Isbel struck out. Matt Duffy flew out to end the threat.

The same situation occurred in the third inning. Waters doubled to start the frame but was quickly picked off at second base. Later, Samad Taylor and Pratto struck out to keep the game scoreless.

The Royals wouldn’t get another opportunity against Bieber. He retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced.

What’s next: The Royals begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium. KC’s Alec Marsh will start the opener against Bobby Miller after Jordan Lyles was scratched due to illness.