Royals’ Cole Ragans leaves start early with groin tightness

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Royals ace Cole Ragans exited his start early Thursday due to left groin tightness.

Ragans pitched just three innings and 62 pitches before exiting the first game of a doubleheader between the Royals and Colorado Rockies.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said the left-hander struggled to get loose before the game and had a nagging issue throughout the early innings of Kansas City’s 7-4 victory.

“As he was sitting there between innings, between the third and fourth, it tightened up on him,” said Quatraro. “I did not talk to him yet, but I would assume, you know, if he’s not comfortable pushing off, you’re seeing him cut some stuff off, which makes sense, based on most of those misses. Just probably wasn’t getting through it.”

Ragans allowed four runs during the three innings he pitched. Left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa became the first of four Royals relievers to come on in the game, helping Kansas City get six innings of scoreless pitching to win the game and the series.

Kansas City improved to 11-14 with the win, their third in a row.

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