Bobby Witt Jr. hits home runs, triples and doubles in Royals’ 10-4 win over Diamondbacks

“It’s hard to describe,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “The power he shows, the demeanor at the plate, it’s like he’s playing a different game.”

The crowd rose to its feet and chanted “Bobby! Bobby!” when Witt came to bat in the sixth inning, expecting a single and the first cycle by a Kansas City player in 34 years, but Arizona reliever Humberto Castellanos hit Witt with his first pitch, drawing loud boos.

“It’s really unfortunate that he got hit,” Quatraro said. “I don’t know what to make of the intention behind it.”

Witt got another chance in the eighth, but was eliminated on a fly ball to right field. The last Royals player to hit a cycle was Hall of Famer George Brett in Toronto on July 25, 1990.

“I definitely wanted to do it for the fans. These fans are amazing here,” Witt said. “I choked up at the end, but whatever.”

Witt, who was named American League Player of the Week earlier Monday, is 12 of 15 since playing in his first All-Star Game and finishing as the runner-up in the Home Run Derby, raising his average to .341. It was Witt’s fourth consecutive three-hit game, tying Johnny Damon in 2000 for the second-best streak in franchise history behind Brett’s six games in 1976.

One inning after Witt was plonked, Royals reliever John Schreiber hit Gabriel Moreno with a pitch. Both benches were warned, and Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker and had to be restrained. Royals catcher Perez appeared to exchange words with Lovullo during the scrum at the plate.

“I never said a word to Salvador Perez,” Lovullo said. “I just wanted him to hear what I said to Jordan. I told him, ‘If you in your right mind think I would ask my team to hit the future of Major League Baseball, one of the best players in the game, you’re crazy. You’ve lost control of this situation and you’ve done it wrong.’ I wanted Salvy to hear that and take it back to their dugout.”

The Royals (56-45), who are eligible for a wild-card spot in the playoffs, matched their win total from last season.

Cole Ragans (7-6) survived a shaky third inning to record his second straight victory and his eighth quality start in nine, allowing six hits, two walks and three runs in six innings.

The Diamondbacks took a 3-1 lead in the third inning when Kevin Newman and Alek Thomas doubled back-to-back and Ketel Marte followed with his 20th home run, a two-run homer to left.

The Royals responded in the bottom half with Witt’s double, Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI single and Perez’s two-run homer to center field for a 4-3 lead.

Witt hit a three-run home run off reliever Miguel Castro in the fourth inning to make it 8-3.

“Castro is not an easy right-hander to play against,” Quatraro said. “He comes in there and that first pitch, you don’t expect him to hit a home run, but I think maybe you try to expect it. It’s unbelievable, what he’s doing now. Absolutely unbelievable.”

Renfroe hit a home run in the sixth, Kyle Isbel had three hits and two RBIs, and Pasquantino had three hits for the Royals.

After allowing just one run in six innings in his first two major league starts, Arizona’s Yilber Diaz allowed seven runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.

“He couldn’t find his secondary stuff and became predictable with his fastball,” Lovullo said.

Diamondbacks: Lovullo said LHP Jordan Montgomery (knee) would come off the injured list and start Tuesday. RHP Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) will each throw a bullpen session Tuesday and are scheduled to play simulated games, Thursday for Kelly and Friday for Rodriguez.

Royals: OF MJ Melendez (ankle) is set to return, Quatraro said. Melendez comes off the IL on Friday.

Alec Marsh (7-6, 3.55) will start for the Royals against Montgomery (6-5, 6.44).

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