Robbie Grossman supplied a two-run single, and the visiting Kansas City Royals survived the early departure of starter Michael Lorenzen in a 3-0 win against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. Michael Massey and Salvador Perez had two hits each for Kansas City (84-74), which helped its American League wild-card chances by winning its second straight game after losing seven in a row. Both Kansas City and Detroit (also 84-74) won on Wednesday to hold the second and third wild-card spots behind the Baltimore Orioles, who have already clinched a postseason berth.
Lorenzen, making his first start back from a hamstring injury, motioned for a trainer and left the game with one out in the third inning. Daniel Lynch IV (2-0) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win as six Royals pitchers combined on the two-hit shutout. Lucas Erceg pitched the ninth for his 13th save.
The Nationals (69-89) have been shut out three games in a row for the second time in franchise history and have gone 31 innings without a run. Washington has lost eight of nine and scored one run or less in seven of those games. Nationals starter DJ Herz (4-9) allowed a run on three hits over five innings in the final start of his rookie campaign.
Herz made 19 starts and finished with a 4.16 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings. Kyle Isbel led off the Kansas City third inning with a walk and Tommy Pham singled.
Isbel went to third when Bobby Witt Jr. flied out and scored the game's first run when Masey lin.
