Pasquantino hits 2 homers to lead Royals over Diamondbacks 9-3

Vinnie Pasquantino has 2 HRs, career high 6 RBIs to lift Royals over Diamondbacks 9-3

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Kansas City Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino, right, celebrates with Salvador Perez (13) after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Kansas City Royals pitcher Kris Bubic throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez throws against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Kansas City Royals catcher Freddy Fermin makes the play for an out on a bunt-attempt by Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the first inning during a baseball game, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Eugenio Suárez hits an RBI sacrifice flyout in the first inning during a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

By DAVID BRANDT

PHOENIX (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino homered twice and drove in a career-high six runs, Bobby Witt Jr. added three hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-3 on Friday night.

The Royals have won three of their past four games. The D-backs have dropped three straight.

Pasquantino gave the Royals a 3-0 lead in the first with a three-run shot into the right field seats off left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. The first baseman took Rodriguez deep again in the fourth, this time mashing the ball 401 feet over the right-center wall for a two-run homer and an 8-2 lead.

It was Pasquantino’s second career multi-homer game. Mark Canha added a solo homer in the fifth.

Kansas City lefty Kris Bubic (7-6) gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out six.

Rodriguez (3-5) gave up nine runs — eight earned — over 4 1/3 innings and now has a 5.78 ERA. He struck out seven, but gave up 12 hits, including three homers.

Arizona cut Kansas City’s lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the first on Eugenio Suarez’s sacrifice fly and Josh Naylor’s RBI single. But the Royals came right back with three runs in the second to take a 6-2 lead.

Suarez added a solo homer in the sixth — his 28th of the season.

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Key moment

Rodriguez had two strikes on leadoff hitter Jonathan India in the first inning before hitting him with a pitch. Witt followed with a single and Pasquantino homered, foreshadowing a rough night for the D-backs.

Key stat

Rodriguez has a 6-9 record with a 5.49 ERA over 25 starts since signing with the D-backs on an $80 million, four-year deal in December 2023.

Up next

The series continues Saturday when the Royals send RHP Michael Wacha (4-8, 3.62 ERA) to the mound. The D-backs counter with RHP Ryne Nelson (4-2, 3.61).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb