Lane Thomas hits grand slam in 1st inning, leads Royals to a 9-2 win over the Reds

By: Jeff Wallner, The Associated Press Posted: 9:08 PM CDT Monday, Jun. 1, 2026

CINCINNATI (AP) — Lane Thomas hit a grand slam in the first inning and Luinder Avila pitched a career-high five innings as the Kansas City Royals snapped a six-game skid with a 9-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

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Kansas City (23-37) won for just the fourth time in 20 games.

Avila (1-2) made his second career start and allowed one run on two hits with four walks and a career-high five strikeouts on 86 pitches, also a career high. Avila is replacing left-hander Kris Bubic, who is sidelined with arm issues.

Kansas City Royals' Lane Thomas rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, June 1, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)

Jac Caglianone hit a two-run home run, his sixth of the season, in the fifth and Michael Massey added a solo homer in the seventh, both off Reds lefty Brandon Leibrandt.

Leibrandt gave the Reds’ injury-riddled bullpen a boost by pitching six innings, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits.

Reds right-hander Lyon Richardson (0-1) made his fifth career start after Chase Burns, who has a 1.96 ERA in 11 starts, was scratched due to illness. Richardson lasted one inning, issuing two walks and hitting a batter before allowing Thomas’ third career grand slam that gave the Royals a 4-0 lead.

It was Thomas’ second home run of the season and first since April 26. He went 3 for 5 with a homer, double, and four RBIs.

Reds left fielder JJ Bleday hit a solo home run, his 10th of the season and third in four games, in the first inning to make the score 4-1. It was just the second homer allowed by Avila this season through 36 innings.

Highly rated infield prospect Edwin Arroyo made his major-league debut at second base for Cincinnati and singled in the ninth inning for his first career hit. He went 1 for 4 and made one fine defensive play. The 22-yeare-old was recalled from Triple-A earlier Monday when Elly De La Cruz was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.

Up next

Royals LHP Noah Cameron (2-4, 4.61) will oppose Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (4-3, 3.88) on Tuesday night.