Kansas City hitters went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and Brady Singer struggled in the fifth as the Royals dropped the series finale in Pittsburgh 4-3.
The Pirates got to Singer in the opening frame when Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off with a single, followed by an RBI double by Bryan Reynolds. The Royals were able to tie that in the second when they loaded the bases with no outs, scoring a run on a Yuli Gurriel sacrifice fly. But they failed to make it a big inning when Maikel Garcia and Garrett Hampson each struck out against Pirates starter Jared Jones.