Royals Edge Marlins 7–4: Bubic Secures Crucial Victory

By Oliver Wiener July 22, 2025 11:54

The Kansas City Royals delivered a vital victory on July 20, 2025, overcoming the Miami Marlins 7–4 at loanDepot Park to avoid a three-game sweep and snap Miami’s four-game winning streak. Leading the charge was Kris Bubic, who pitched five shutout innings, while Salvador Perez provided offensive firepower with a home run and a double to help secure Kansas City’s crucial win.

Bubic (8-6) was masterful on the mound, allowing just three hits and one walk over five innings while striking out two. His ability to silence the Marlins’ lineup early set the tone for the game. After the victory, Bubic emphasized his focus: “I wanted to attack the zone early, get quick outs, and give our offense a chance to produce. It felt good to deliver that for the team today.” His steady presence marked a key performance during a season where consistency has been critical for the Royals’ postseason hopes.

Offensively, Kansas City jumped on Miami starter Janson Junk (4-2) with a barrage of key hits in the middle innings. The Royals combined patient approach and aggressive baserunning to build a commanding lead. In the fourth inning, a sequence of clutch hits produced three runs. Bobby Witt Jr. scored on Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly, followed by Salvador Perez’s powerful ground-rule double. Jac Caglianone then drove in two more with a sharp two-run double, putting Kansas City ahead 5–0.

The surge continued in the fifth inning when Jonathan India doubled to add two more RBIs, and Vinnie Pasquantino chipped in an RBI sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 6–0. The Royals’ lineup, known for its ability to produce doubles ranking fourth in MLB with 172 on the season showcased that strength again, with five different players recording doubles in the game.

Perez capped off his impressive day in the eighth inning with his 15th home run of the season, a solo shot off Natanael Bellozo, extending the Royals' advantage to 7–0 and energizing the crowd. The 2-for-4 performance for Perez, including two RBIs and two runs scored, reinforced his status as Kansas City’s offensive backbone.

The Marlins, trailing for most of the game, strived to rally in the ninth inning but ultimately fell short. Xavier Edwards and Agustín Ramírez each contributed two RBIs, helping Miami score four runs late, but the damage had already been done. The Royals’ bullpen, despite a shaky moment when Andrew Hoffmann allowed four runs (all unearned) in two-thirds of an inning, survived to see Carlos Estévez close out the game for his 26th save.

Royals manager Mike Matheny praised his team’s balanced effort: “Kris gave us a fantastic start, and the lineup responded at the right time. We’ve been focused on bringing energy and consistency, and it showed today. This win was critical for our confidence.”

With this victory, Kansas City improved to 48-52, while Miami fell to 46-52, allowing the Royals to remain competitive in the tightly contested American League Central. The win also halted the Marlins’ momentum, who had entered the game riding a four-game winning streak.

Looking ahead, the Royals send right-hander Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.31 ERA) to the mound against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, while the Marlins prepare for a start from Eury Pérez (3-2, 3.18 ERA) at home against San Diego.

Overall, the Royals’ 7–4 win epitomized a team effort featuring strong pitching, timely hitting, and unyielding resilience, providing a vital boost as Kansas City navigates the challenging midseason stretch.