Royals manager most proud of hitters for this trait after season-best scoring effort

Seven days has to be considered a pattern, right?

Ever since the calendar changed over to May, the Kansas City Royals have been on a noticeable uptick offensively while swinging some of the hottest bats in the majors.

That trend continued — and more — on Monday night, as the Royals notched a season-high for runs in a 12-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

“It’s just contagious,” Royals second baseman Michael Massey said. “Guys are just following one another and going out there trying to put together good at-bats and seeing some results.”

Coming into the contest, KC had already put up impressive numbers in its first six games of the month. The Royals led all MLB teams in May slugging percentage (.567) and on-base-plus-slugging (.946) while also tying for second with 12 home runs.

Monday just added to the onslaught.

MJ Melendez had two hits (including a homer) and four RBIs. Jackie Bradley Jr. went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while the Royals — statistically the worst team in the majors with runners in scoring position — started 6-for-12 in that clutch situation on this particular night.

“Just balls are starting to fall,” Melendez said. “I think earlier this season, we’ve had some days where we’ve hit the ball really hard, just right at people. And finally, things are starting to fall, go our way.”

The run production helped KC get over its early-season home slump. The Royals won their second consecutive game at Kauffman Stadium for the first time since Sept. 22-23 last season, while bumping their home record to 4-16.

There’s still no sugar-coating the Kansas City Royals’ overall poor start at 10-26. The team was lousy during the early months it mattered most, which means it has many more good weeks to stack together to crawl back into the AL Central race while hoping to regain Kansas City sports fans’ attention over a long summer.

Monday’s output — along with the six games immediately before it — still provides the season’s best hope that the next five months might not resemble the disappointment of March and April.

And that especially goes for the offense, as the Royals have rebounded after getting shut out in six of their first 25 games.

“I was saying it early when we weren’t scoring runs: The process was great the whole time. Teams are gonna go through ups and downs offensively throughout the course of the year,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “So I’m happy for the guys that they’re having that success, but I’m more happy that they haven’t changed their work, their thought process.

“They didn’t panic. It’s easy to do when you’re struggling, and they didn’t do that, and they stuck with their plan, and now they’re having some success. And it’s nice to see.”

While talking in front of his clubhouse locker Monday night, Massey said he also believed KC’s recent hitting success was driven by an ability to keep steady through difficult times.

“It’s easy to think too much and try to get results,” Massey said. “You’ve just gotta stay with what you do and get pitches to drive. It sounds simple, but if you get pitches to drive it and put your best swing on it, over the course of a season, I think it’s gonna it’s gonna play out the way you want.”

Key Moments

Melendez had two of the Royals’ top individual plays.

In the second inning, he sprinted to the right-field line and fully extended for a diving catch to rob Hanser Alberto of a hit.

Then, in the fourth, Melendez crushed a 2-2 fastball from Dylan Cease, sending it 431 feet for a two-run home run that ricocheted off signage in the right-field fountains.

Adding an arm

The Royals acquired right-handed pitcher James McArthur from Philadelphia on Monday morning for minor-league outfielder Junior Marin and cash. McArthur, designated for assignment by the Phillies last week, will be assigned to Triple-A Omaha.

Quatraro said before Monday’s game that he was still learning about McArthur and what he’ll provide to the franchise.

“I know that our pitching guys looked at him,” Quatraro said, “and really were excited to be able to acquire him.”

KC, as part of the transaction, designated outfielder/designated hitter Franmil Reyes for assignment. Reyes was optioned to Triple-A Omaha last week.

What’s next: The Royals will face the White Sox three more times. Jordan Lyles will be on the mound for KC on Tuesday, facing Lucas Giolito.