Mets take first series in nearly a month with win over inept Royals

Jul 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) follows through on a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Royals failed to capitalize on the chance to take two straight series as they fell to the Mets, 7-3, Thursday afternoon.

Kansas City led the game going into the bottom of the fifth, but for the third straight game, they allowed New York to score at least four runs in an inning, this time giving up five in the fifth. When the offense is plating 16 runs, that may not matter, but it certainly does when the lineup slumbers through an afternoon, like it did today.

The Royals led at two different points. Lane Thomas led off the game with a home run, his seventh of the season. After the Mets tied it in the bottom of the second, the Royals regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 13th home run. Not so lucky, that odd number.

The 12:10 Lane Train is leaving the station! pic.twitter.com/aOsNLmjYnc

, Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 9, 2026

Michael Wacha started for the Royals, yet couldn’t make it out of that forsaken fifth inning. Over 4-and-2/3 innings pitched, he allowed six hits, walked three, struck out five, and allowed one homer. In all, he surrendered six runs, all earned. He took the loss, dropping to 5-7.

The Mets took their first lead of the game in the fifth, then padded it, and never gave it up. Tyrone Taylor led off the inning with his sixth home run of the year, tying the game at 2-2. The Mets soon loaded the bases with just one out before Bo Bichette hit a sacrifice fly to give them the 3-2 lead. Carson Benge followed with a two-run bloop single. Before Wacha exited, he allowed one final hit, this time an RBI single by Francisco Alvarez that made it 6-2.

✌️ more come home! pic.twitter.com/RgiyDlHOdQ

, New York Mets (@Mets) July 9, 2026

In the top of the seventh, the Royals thought about coming back, but ultimately reversed course. After the first two batters went down, Nick Loftin singled before scoring on Jac Caglianone’s RBI double. 6-3, Mets. Isaac Collins followed with a walk to bring up the potential tying run in the form of Tyler 12-for-12 Tolbert.

Naturally, with two outs, Tolbert bunted. The ball didn’t go all that far before Luis Torrens, the Mets catcher, scooped it up and fired to first for the third and final out of the inning. Once again, a bunt kills the comeback. I’m starting to think that bunts, not home runs, are the true rally killers.

The Mets almost immediately got that run back when Juan Soto uncorked his 21st home of the year in the bottom half of the frame to make it 7-3, Mets. And that ended up being the final score.

Juan Soto sends this ball 435 feet 😤 pic.twitter.com/YR5kEycwef

, MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2026

Loftin added a single in the ninth, so he ended the day as the only Royal with a multi-hit game. Congrats, Nick. Outside of Soto’s home run off reliever Beck Way, the bullpen didn’t allow any damage. Of course, Wacha had already taken care of that issue.

Sean Manaea, the Mets starting pitcher, finished the day with seven innings pitched, allowing six hits and a single walk while striking out six. He allowed two home runs.

With the loss, the Royals fall to 38-56. They continue their East Coast trip tomorrow as they travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles. I’ll have that series preview for everyone early tomorrow afternoon.