Willy Adames calls his shot, hits go-ahead 3-run homer with 2 outs in ninth as Brewers beat KC, 6-5

Milwaukee Brewers’ Willy Adames celebrates as he crosses the plate after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Willy Adames had been chatting up the Royals fans behind the Milwaukee dugout all game, the good-natured ribbing carrying on as the Brewers jumped out to a two-run lead and Kansas City battled back to take its own two-run lead to the ninth.

With two outs and a pair of runners aboard, Adames found himself standing in the on-deck circle with the game on the line.

“They told me they wanted me to hit a three-run homer,” Adames would say later, “and I was like, ‘I got you.’”

Adames proceeded to drill an 83 mph curveball from Royals closer James McArthur into the left-field bullpen, sending Milwaukee to a 6-5 win Tuesday night, and leaving those Kansas City fans mock-worshipping him as he returned to the dugout.

Kansas City Royals center fielder Garrett Hampson can’t get a three-run home run Milwaukee Brewers’ Willy Adames celebrates as he crosses the plate after hitting a three-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

“It was really priceless,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who had watched the called-shot scene unfold. “It was really cool.”

Jared Koenig (3-1) earned the win for Milwaukee, getting Hunter Renfroe to ground out to end the seventh and then surviving a scoreless eighth. Trevor Megill breezed through the ninth to earn his third save in three tries.

Vinnie Pasquantino drove in three runs for Kansas City. Salvador Perez and Kyle Isbel also drove in runs.

“That one stings,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro admitted, “but we’ve done that to other people as well.”

Rhys Hoskins and Joey Ortiz crushed back-to-back homers off Royals starter Seth Lugo in the second inning, but that was all the offense the Brewers could muster until the seventh, when they managed to coax another run across.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jared Koenig throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

They squandered a chance to draw closer when Angel Zerpa struck out Gary Sanchez to strand a pair later in the seventh, then missed another opportunity in the eighth, when John Schreiber fanned Oliver Dunn to leave two more runners aboard.

The Brewers didn’t waste their final opportunity in the ninth.

McArthur (1-2) had retired the first two batters when William Contreras, on a full-count pitch, began the comeback with a double just inside the left-field foul line. Sanchez followed with a walk before Adames walked confidently to the plate.

“He’s carrying on with (the fans) during Gary’s at-bat, and he’s telling them — they’re Kansas City fans — he’s telling them, ‘One more ball,’” Murphy said. “Then he goes back to them and goes, ‘Here we go.’”

There it went, right into the left-field bullpen.

It wasn’t exactly on par Babe Ruth’s called shot — there’s a big difference between a regular-season game the first week of May and Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, when the Hall of Famer famously pointed toward deep center field at Wrigley Field, then homered to that exact spot to help the Yankees beat the Cubs, 7-5.

Still, it was the kind of stuff certain to go down in Brewers lore.

“Oh my God, that was the coolest thing I ever done,” said Adames, who even signed some balls for those Kansas City fans. “You know, sometimes the fans will be very hard, but these guys here, they were amazing. They were having a good time. Like, all my at-bats, we were chatting, and then the last one was obviously the most fun.”

Kansas City Royals’ Kyle Isbel is caught stealing second by Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

MILEY UPDATE

Brewers left-hander Wade Miley was scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Tuesday in Cincinnati. The procedure was being performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek, the Reds’ medical director. The 37-year-old Miley made two starts this season, working seven total innings, before he was put on the injured list April 22 with elbow inflammation. The Brewers were counting on him after Miley went 9-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts last season.

Milwaukee Brewers’ Tyler Black beats the tag by Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey to steal second during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

UP NEXT

RHP Joe Ross (1-3, 4.65 ERA) pitches the series finale Wednesday afternoon for the Brewers. RHP Brady Singer (2-1, 2.45) is due to make the 100th start of his career for Kansas City.

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Jordan Lyles celebrates after pitching during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. The Brewers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Kansas City Royals’ Kyle Isbel (28) and Bobby Witt Jr. celebrate after scoring on a two-run double by Vinnie Pasquantino during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (7) slides home past Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras to score on a single by Vinnie Pasquantino during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. (7) beats the tag by Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames to steal second during the seventh inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals’ Kyle Isbel, left, celebrates with first base coach Damon Hollins after hitting an RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy makes a pitching change during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras catches a fly foul ball for the out on Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey throws to first after forcing Milwaukee Brewers’ Sal Frelick (10) out at second on a force out hit into by William Contreras during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI double hit by Salvador Perez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)