Guardians lose 3rd straight as Gavin Williams struggles for Cleveland
TL;DR
The Cleveland Guardians lost their third consecutive game, falling 5-3 to the Kansas City Royals. Gavin Williams struggled on the mound, allowing a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
Key points
- Guardians lost 5-3 to Royals
- Gavin Williams struggled on the mound
- Michael Massey hit a two-run homer
- Royals won their fifth straight game
- Noah Cameron was scratched due to injury
Stephen Kolek allowed only a three-run homer over six solid innings of his 2026 debut, and Michael Massey clubbed a go-ahead, two-run shot in the fourth as the surging Kansas City Royals won their season-high fifth straight, 5-3 over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.
Isaac Collins also homered and was a triple shy of the cycle for the Royals, who have won the first two of this four-game set by a combined 11-5 margin and are 10-3 since losing eight in a row.
Kolek (1-0) was activated off the 15-day injury list from an oblique strain to take the mound in place of Noah Cameron, who was scratched with low back tightness.
The right-hander yielded three of his four hits in the fourth, when Rhys Hoskins went deep with two on. Kolek allowed only one other hit, didn't walk a batter and retired the final eight Guardians he faced.
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians head coach Stephen Vogt in the dugout prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians head coach Stephen Vogt in the dugout prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians head coach Stephen Vogt in the dugout prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
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Jose Ramirez and Guardians series at Bobby Witt Jr.-led Royals
May 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Royals, meanwhile, wasted no time getting to Cleveland's Gavin Williams (5-2). He walked Maikel Garcia to open the bottom of the first and Bobby Witt Jr. followed with a double into the right-field gap. Two batters later, Salvador Perez drove both home with his single to center.
In the fourth, Kolek allowed singles to Chase DeLauter and Kyle Manzardo, and both scored when Hoskins sent a drive off the left-field foul pole to give the Guardians a 3-2 edge.
May 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Stephen Kolek (32) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
However, the Royals regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Collins cracked a one-out double and scored on Massey's shot well over the right-field wall.
Kansas City added on in the sixth when Collins barely cleared the right-field fence with two out in the frame off Williams, who allowed a season-high eight hits while striking out seven with two walks over six innings.
May 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (19) hits a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
Cleveland, which has dropped three in a row after winning three straight, had won six consecutive starts made by Williams entering this contest.
Witt had two hits and Kansas City relievers Nick Mears, Daniel Lynch IV and Lucas Erceg (10th save) didn't yield a hit over three innings.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score vs. Royals. Stephen Kolek outpitches Gavin Williams
Q&A
What was the final score of the Guardians vs Royals game?
The final score was 5-3 in favor of the Kansas City Royals.
Who hit the go-ahead homer for the Royals against the Guardians?
Michael Massey hit a go-ahead, two-run homer for the Royals.
How many games have the Guardians lost in a row?
The Guardians have lost three straight games.
What injury affected the Royals' starting pitcher in the game?
Noah Cameron was scratched from the start due to low back tightness.