Sugano helps the Rockies beat the Royals 3-1 in game delayed at start by hailstorm

DENVER (AP) — Tomoyuki Sugano allowed a run over 6 2/3 innings to win for the seventh time in his last eight starts and the Colorado Rockies beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Friday night after a hailstorm delayed the start an hour.

Sugano (11-4) gave up five hits and matched his longest outing this season to help the Rockies end a four-game skid. He left after 83 pitches with Salvador Perez on first base, and Johnny Rave greeted Antonio Senzatela with a single to put runners on the corners. Josh Rojas flied out to left field to keep it 3-1.

Senzatela and Brennan Bernardino each got two outs and Jordan Romano pitched the ninth for his fifth save in five opportunities with Colorado.

Sugano has gone 7-0 since June 1 — tied with the Giants’ Robbie Ray for best in the majors over that span. He is the first 11-game winner for Colorado since Germán Márquez went 12-11 in 2021.

Mickey Moniak had a one-out double off Royals starter Michael Wacha (5-8) in the first, and TJ Rumfield added a two-out single for a 1-0 lead.

Kyle Karros singled with one out in the fourth, advanced on a groundout and scored on a throwing error by second baseman Troy Johnston. Brenton Doyle doubled in his second at-bat following a 2 1/2-month stay on the injured list to make it 3-0.

Sugano gave up Carter Jensen’s 15th homer with two outs in the sixth to cut it to 3-1. It was the 21st surrendered in 19 starts by the right-hander — 18 of them solo shots.

Wacha allowed three runs — one earned — on five hits in six innings. He struck out seven, including a career-best five in a row.

Sugano went 10-10 as a rookie last season for the Orioles and collected his first major league win on April 5, beating Wacha and the Royals 8-1 in Kansas City.

Up nex

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Royals RHP Luinder Avila (5-3, 4.95 ERA) was set to start Saturday opposite Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (3-5, 5.73).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Sugano helps the Rockies beat the Royals 3-1 in game delayed at start by hailstorm | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Rockies’ TJ Rumfield follows the flight of his RBI single off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 31, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Sugano helps the Rockies beat the Royals 3-1 in game delayed at start by hailstorm | iNFOnews.ca
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 31, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Sugano helps the Rockies beat the Royals 3-1 in game delayed at start by hailstorm | iNFOnews.ca
First base umpire Vic Carapazza, left, checks the glove and cap of Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano after he retired the Kansas City Royals in the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 31, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Sugano helps the Rockies beat the Royals 3-1 in game delayed at start by hailstorm | iNFOnews.ca
Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, left, takes the ball from starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, right, as he is pulled from the mound while catcher Hunter Goodman looks on in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 31, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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