Royals' Stephen Kolek makes winning season debut against Guardians

Field Level Media|published: Tue 5th May, 22:17 2026

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

--Field Level Media

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