SAN DIEGO — The Kansas City Royals’ late-game struggles continue.
One night after giving up five ninth-inning runs in a 6-1 home loss to Houston, the Royals’ Chris Young yielded three eighth-inning runs in a 6-3 loss to the lowly San Diego Padres, who halted a five-game losing streak.
With two out and nobody on, Young gave up a single to Erick Aybar and a double to Matt Szczur, putting runners at second and third. Rookie pinch-hitter Franchy Cordero then belted a two-run double to center and Yangervis Solarte followed with an RBI single to right that fell when second baseman Whit Merrifield and Jorge Bonifacio failed to communicate on the popup.