Stranded baserunners, terrible replay review, and a bullpen blowup lead to 4-2 Royals loss in Colorado

It is a recurring theme.

In a familiar theme this season, the Royals wasted several scoring opportunities, were hurt by an awful ruling after replay review, and had the bullpen blow the game late in a 4-2 loss to the Rockies Friday night.

The Royals adapted to Coors Field well initially, jumping on Rockies starter Kyle Freeland in the opening frame. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled over the head of left fielder Nolan Jones, and later scored on an RBI single by Salvador Perez.

The Rockies got on the board in the third off Cole Ragans with some help from a fan and terrible umpiring. Michael Toglia drove a ball to center that Dairon Blanco appeared to have a play on. But a fan reached over and interfered with his attempt at a catch and it was ruled a home run. Somehow a replay review did not overturn the call, making it the second time in a week that Ragans was screwed over on a home run review.

After stranding two bass runners in the fourth, the Royals reclaimed the lead in the fifth when a Garrett Hampson force out scored Freddy Fermin. They had a chance at another run in the fifth when Maikel Garcia led off with a triple, but the heart of the order stranded him.

Ragans had a shaky sixth, giving up an RBI single to Elias Diaz to tie the game at 2-2. But he finished with a strong seventh, ending the night with eight strikeouts and 20 whiffs.

The bullpen continued its woes in the eighth when John Schreiber came in the game. He gave up a single, double, walk, then a two-run double to Brenton Doyle to give the Rockies the lead. Walter Pennington made his MLB debut and retired the two hitters he faced including one strikeout.

The Royals again put two runners on base in the ninth against Jalen Beeks, but Garrett Hampson inexplicably tried to bunt on a 3-1 count, eventually striking out, Dairon Blanco popped out, and Maikel Garcia grounded out to end the game.

The Royals fall to 48-42 and will try to even the series tomorrow evening at 8:10 when Seth Lugo faces Austin Gomber.