Kansas City Royals rout Mets, accomplish feat done just 4 other times in club history

Man, what a difference a week makes.

If a KC fan was told seven days ago the Royals would tie a franchise record by completing a perfect homestand, would they have believed it?

Probably not, but that’s just what happened. The Royals beat the Mets 9-2 on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium and finished a perfect 6-0 homestand.

“I think we’re playing good baseball. Everyone’s competing and we’re going out there and I think just trying to do stuff to help the team win,” second baseman Michael Massey said. “One thing I’ve noticed when you’re on a winning streak, your mindset suddenly kind of gets off of you, and it just starts going into, ‘Hey, what’s one thing I can do today to help this team win,’ whether it’s defense, offense, stealing a base, being a good teammate.

“It’s just like you’re kind of stacking them like Post-it notes, and I feel like that’s kind of the momentum we have right now.”

The last time the Royals went unbeaten in a homestand of six or more games was in 2016 (May 27-June 1), when Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Wade Davis were playing.

It’s just the fifth time in franchise history that feat has been accomplished.

The other three times:

July 22-28, 1985: 6-0

Sept. 2-8, 1985: 8-0

June 2-8, 1988: 7-0

On Thursday, first baseman Salvador Perez had an RBI double in the first inning, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-run homer in the third inning, and Drew Waters added a three-run shot in the seventh.

The Royals scored three more in the eighth inning to make it 9-0. That was more than enough for starting pitcher Brady Singer.

Missed previous games of the series?

Game 1: Royals defeat Mets in unconventional way: A “balk-off”

Game 2: Royals’ Cole Ragans shuts down Mets

Player of the game

Singer tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks. He struck out four.

Singer started the first and final games of the six-game stretch, allowing just two runs over 13 innings.

“I think every starter was really, really good,” Singer said of the six-game stretch. “So I think that was incredible. The offense was great, too. It was just all-around everything. Everything worked out well and that was an unbelievable homestand.”

He added: “We’re riding high and we should be. I mean, six in a row. So keep building on everything we’re doing, but just continue to go out there and compete and do what we’re doing. It’s been really fun to watch.”

Highlights

Witt continued his hot hitting with a two-run blast that traveled an estimated 425 feet.

Freddy Fermin and Matt Beaty opened the seventh inning with singles and Waters followed with a home run to right field that made it 6-0. It was the second straight game with a homer for Waters.

Inside the numbers

• The Royals, 35-75, noted their starting pitchers were 4-0 with a 1.75 ERA (7 ER in 36 IP), 34 strikeouts and five walks during the homestand.
  
  

• KC is 11-6 in its last 17 games at Kauffman Stadium since June 29, after starting the season 10-30.
  
  

• The Royals have hit a home run in 10 of their last 12 games with 18 homers total in that span.
  
  

What’s next: The Royals will open a three-game series Friday against the Phillies in Philadelphia. Jordan Lyles will face the Phillies Aaron Nola.