Royals lose 3-2 to the A's on June 15, 2025, as Nick Kurtz's walk-off homer off Estévez completes a sweep. Despite a great start from Noah Cameron, KC's losing streak hits six.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a gut punch in the ninth. A solo shot off the bat of Oakland's Nick Kurtz against closer Carlos Estévez sailed over the wall, handing the Kansas City Royals a devastating 3-2 loss and cementing a three-game sweep at the hands of the Athletics. The walk-off defeat on Sunday, the details of which soured the mood across Kansas City on Monday, extended the team's losing streak to a season-high six games, sending them spiraling out of a crucial homestand without a single win.
The Royals have been outscored 44-15 in the sixth inning this season.
For five brilliant innings, it looked like rookie Noah Cameron was going to be the hero. The young left-hander was masterful, shutting down the A's with seven strikeouts while allowing just three hits and no runs. The offense even provided a glimmer of hope in the third inning when Bobby Witt Jr. snapped a painful 0-for-16 slump with an RBI double, followed by a Vinnie Pasquantino RBI single to build a 2-0 lead. But the good feelings evaporated in the sixth when Austin Wynns tagged the bullpen for a game-tying two-run homer. The game remained deadlocked until the ninth, when Estévez surrendered the game-winning blast, marking another frustrating chapter of bullpen struggles.
While Bobby Witt Jr.'s slump-busting double was a welcome sight, it wasn't nearly enough to power a victory. After their two-run burst in the third inning, the Royals' bats went silent for the remainder of the game. This offensive disappearing act has become an alarming trend during the six-game losing streak, a stretch where the team has consistently failed to provide its pitchers with adequate support. The inability to tack on runs, especially in the middle innings, has put immense pressure on a bullpen that is clearly cracking.
Despite the major league club's freefall, there is long-term hope brewing in the minor leagues. The farm system, led by top prospects like Jac Caglianone, Ben Kudrna, and Blake Wolters, remains a point of pride and a potential source of future reinforcements. In the immediate term, however, the Royals must find a solution with the current roster. They'll get their next chance on the road, kicking off a crucial series in Texas on Tuesday. Staff ace Seth Lugo (3-5, 3.18 ERA) will get the start in the opener, tasked with playing the role of stopper and salvaging a season that feels like it's on the brink.
The Royals are officially at a crossroads. A disastrous 0-6 homestand has erased early-season optimism, and the pressure is mounting. All eyes now turn to Texas, where veteran Seth Lugo will take the mound with the immense weight of a six-game losing streak on his shoulders. Tuesday's series opener isn't just another game; it's a desperate search for a reset button before this skid spirals completely out of control.
