Jensen finishes a single shy of the cycle to help Royals win 7-3 and avoid sweep against Marlins

By: David Smale, The Associated Press Posted: 9:34 PM CDT Thursday, Sep. 3, 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Carter Jensen finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle with a home run, triple and a double while driving in three runs and scoring three times as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

The game was played in front of just 10,803 with a game-time temperature of 97 degrees.

Jensen has three home runs in the last two games for the Royals, who are tied with the Colorado Rockies and the Athletics with 10 series in which they’ve been swept this season.

Kansas City Royals' Carter Jensen celebrates as he crosses the plate after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Michael Wacha (9-8) allowed three runs in six innings, walked two and struck out seven.

Sandy Alcantara (13-9) allowed four runs and six hits through six innings for the Marlins, who were attempting to earn their third sweep against an American League team this season.

Heriberto Hernández took Wacha’s first pitch out to left-center for his first career leadoff home run. The Marlins added another run in the second when Jakob Marsee led off with a double and scored on Joe Mack’s single.

The Royals answered with a pair of runs in the third. Jensen’s RBI triple drove in Kyle Isbel and he scored on a two-out double by Jac Caglianone.

The Marlins came right back in the fourth when Wacha gave up a leadoff extra-base hit for the fourth straight inning, a 426-foot home run to Agustín Ramirez.

Jensen and Isbel combined again in the fifth. Isbel laced a one-out single and Jensen followed with a 440-foot blast to right field for a 4-3 lead against Alcantara.

The Royals added three runs in the eighth.