Kansas City Royals vs. Washington Nationals: August 11-13, 2025 Series Recap and Player Stats

The Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals met for a three-game series from August 11 to August 13, 2025, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals won two of the three games, showcasing clutch hitting and strong bullpen performances to edge out the Nationals, who fought back with power but struggled to close out games. This series was critical for the Royals (58-62) as they battled for an AL Wild Card spot, while the Nationals (54-67) aimed to build momentum with their young core. Below is a detailed recap of the series, highlighting key player performances and stats, sourced from verified outlets including ESPN, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, and CBS Sports.

Match Overview

• Sport: Baseball
• League: Major League Baseball (MLB)
• Series Dates: August 11–13, 2025
• Location: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
• Matchup: Kansas City Royals vs Washington Nationals Match Player Stats
• Series Result: Kansas City Royals won 2–1

Game 1: August 11, 2025 – Royals 7, Nationals 4

The Royals opened the series with a 7-4 victory, driven by a powerful sixth inning featuring two-run homers from Salvador Perez and Kyle Isbel.

Key Performances

• Kansas City Royals:
  • Salvador Perez (C): 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .270 AVG, 11 HR, 104 RBI). Perez’s two-run homer in the 6th off Jake Irvin gave the Royals a 4-2 lead.
  • Kyle Isbel (CF): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .250 AVG, 5 HR). Isbel’s two-run homer in the 6th extended the lead to 6-2.
  • Bobby Witt Jr. (SS): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI (season stats: .320 AVG, 12 HR, 109 RBI). Witt’s RBI single in the 3rd helped build an early lead.
  • Pitching: Michael Wacha (W, 13-8) pitched 5 IP, allowing 4 R (3 ER) on 5 H with 2 SO and 1 BB. The bullpen, featuring Kris Bubic (1 IP, 0 ER) and Lucas Erceg (S, 12), shut down the Nationals, allowing no runs in the final 4 innings.
• Washington Nationals:
  • Josh Bell (1B): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .260 AVG, 15 HR). Bell’s solo homer in the 4th kept the Nationals competitive.
  • Luis García Jr. (2B): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI (season stats: .280 AVG, 18 HR). García’s RBI single in the 3rd tied the game at 2-2.
  • Pitching: Jake Irvin (L, 8-10) allowed 6 ER on 7 H over 5.2 IP, including two homers, with 4 SO. The bullpen couldn’t stop the Royals’ rally.
• Game Notes: The Royals’ 6th-inning outburst included 4 runs on the two homers, capitalizing on Kauffman Stadium’s hitter-friendly dimensions (12th-best for home runs). The Nationals left 5 runners on base, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Attendance: 17,568; game time: 2:44.

Game 2: August 12, 2025 – Royals 8, Nationals 5

The Royals pulled away with an 8-5 win, fueled by Vinnie Pasquantino’s five-RBI performance, including a double and a homer, to reach the .500 mark for the second time since mid-June.

Key Performances

• Kansas City Royals:
  • Vinnie Pasquantino (1B): 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 5 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B (season stats: .280 AVG, 10 HR, 35 RBI). Pasquantino’s three-run homer in the 5th and two-run double in the 7th powered the Royals’ offense.
  • Bobby Witt Jr. (SS): 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 0 RBI (season stats: .320 AVG, 12 HR). Witt’s two hits and speed (85th percentile sprint speed) pressured the Nationals’ defense.
  • Freddy Fermin (C): 3 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI (season stats: .290 AVG, 5 HR). Fermin’s RBI single in the 3rd helped build an early lead.
  • Pitching: Brady Singer (W, 9-12) pitched 6 IP, allowing 3 ER on 6 H with 5 SO. Lucas Erceg (S, 13) closed with a scoreless 9th, his second save of the series.
• Washington Nationals:
  • James Wood (LF): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .281 AVG, 10 HR). Wood’s solo homer in the 6th narrowed the gap to 5-3.
  • CJ Abrams (SS): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI (season stats: .286 AVG, 8 SB). Abrams’ RBI single in the 4th kept the Nationals in the game.
  • Pitching: DJ Herz (L, 4-9) allowed 5 ER on 7 H over 5 IP, including Pasquantino’s homer. The bullpen struggled, with Kyle Finnegan allowing 2 ER in 1 IP.
• Game Notes: The Royals’ 8 runs came on 10 hits, with Pasquantino’s five RBIs marking a career-high. The Nationals’ defense, ranked 11th in MLB, committed an error that led to an unearned run. Attendance: 18,234; game time: 2:50.

Game 3: August 13, 2025 – Nationals 8, Royals 7

The Nationals salvaged the series finale with an 8-7 victory, overcoming a late Royals rally with power from Nathaniel Lowe and CJ Abrams.

Key Performances

• Washington Nationals:
  • Nathaniel Lowe (1B): 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .265 AVG, 10 HR). Lowe’s 4th-inning homer off Cole Ragans gave the Nationals a 3-1 lead.
  • CJ Abrams (SS): 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .286 AVG, 8 SB). Abrams’ 6th-inning homer extended the lead to 6-3.
  • James Wood (LF): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI (season stats: .281 AVG, 10 HR). Wood’s RBI double in the 7th provided insurance.
  • Pitching: Cade Cavalli (W, 5-4) pitched 5.2 IP, allowing 4 ER on 6 H with 6 SO. The bullpen, led by Kyle Finnegan (S, 25), held off a late Royals rally despite allowing 3 runs in the 9th.
• Kansas City Royals:
  • Vinnie Pasquantino (1B): 4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR (season stats: .280 AVG, 10 HR). Pasquantino’s 8th-inning homer sparked a comeback attempt.
  • Bobby Witt Jr. (SS): 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 2B (season stats: .320 AVG, 12 HR). Witt’s 9th-inning RBI double brought the Royals within one.
  • Pitching: Cole Ragans (L, 10-8) allowed 5 ER on 7 H over 5 IP, including two homers. The bullpen struggled, with Sam Long giving up 2 ER in 1 IP.
• Game Notes: The Nationals’ 8 runs came on 10 hits, with three homers exploiting Kauffman Stadium’s short right-field line (330 ft). The Royals’ 9th-inning rally fell short, leaving 6 runners on base and going 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Attendance: 13,669; game time: 2:59.

Series Overview and Stats

• Team Stats (season context through August 13, 2025):
  • Royals Batting: .255 AVG (15th), 4.5 R/G (15th), 1.0 HR/G (14th), 20.8% K% (10th). Pasquantino, Witt, and Perez led a balanced attack.
  • Nationals Batting: .239 AVG (22nd), 4.15 R/G (19th), 0.93 HR/G (22nd), 20.6% K% (9th). Young stars like Abrams and Wood showed promise.
  • Royals Pitching: 4.10 ERA (15th), 8.0 SO/9 (18th), 1.1 HR/9 (14th). The bullpen, led by Erceg, was a strength, throwing 7 scoreless innings across Games 1-2.
  • Nationals Pitching: 4.92 ERA (27th), 8.0 SO/9 (23rd), 1.05 HR/9 (14th). Cavalli’s Game 3 start highlighted his potential, but the staff struggled overall.
• Standout Players:
  • Royals: Vinnie Pasquantino (3 H, 7 RBI, 1 HR, 1 2B) was the series MVP, with Perez (2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR) and Isbel (1 HR, 2 RBI) providing clutch power. Witt’s consistency (5 H, 2 RBI) reinforced his superstar status.
  • Nationals: Nathaniel Lowe (2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR) and CJ Abrams (3 H, 3 RBI, 1 HR) led the offense, with James Wood (2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR) showing his elite potential (96th percentile offensive ability).
• Series Context: The Royals improved to 58-62, staying in the AL Wild Card race, while the Nationals fell to 54-67, focusing on developing their young core. The Royals’ 2-1 series win improved their 2025 record against the Nationals to 2-1, with a historical edge of 7-11 since 2002.

Conclusion

The Royals’ series victory highlighted their resilience, with Pasquantino’s five-RBI game and the bullpen’s dominance in Games 1-2 proving decisive. The Nationals showed flashes of their future potential, with Lowe, Abrams, and Wood delivering power, but their pitching inconsistencies and late-game struggles cost them the series. Kauffman Stadium’s hitter-friendly environment amplified both teams’ offenses, but the Royals’ ability to capitalize in key moments secured the series win.

For the latest MLB stats and updates, visit ESPN, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, or CBS Sports.

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