Brentz 'all smiles' after first MLB victory

KANSAS CITY -- Lefty reliever Jake Brentz did his job on Tuesday night against the Brewers, throwing five pitches to left-handed pinch-hitter Billy McKinney to get out of the eighth inning unscathed.

McKinney was the only batter Brentz faced, but the Royals took the lead in the bottom of the eighth en route to a 2-0 victory at Kauffman Stadium-- and Brentz earned his first Major League win.

Brentz thought it was just another night’s work until he got a handshake from Brad Keller as the team walked into the tunnel after the game, and the Royals celebrated the rookie reliever accordingly in the clubhouse after the win.

“[Keller’s] like, ‘Congrats,’ and I’m like, ‘Congrats? What do you mean? I only threw to one hitter,’” Brentz said. “And he’s like, ‘You just got your first big league win.’ Then it was all smiles from there. It was a great team win in general. Lot of fun.”

Brentz has shown electric stuff out of the bullpen since breaking camp with the Royals. In 17 1/3 innings entering Wednesday, he had walked 20 and held opponents to a .197 average, although there were times when he’s struggled with command with 13 walks.

On top of the milestone win, Tuesday was also special for Brentz because he saw his friend and former teammate Devin Williams, a Brewers reliever and the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year Award winner. Brentz and Williams played baseball together while growing up in St. Louis, and shortly after Brentz walked off the mound at Kauffman Stadium, Williams came on in relief of starter Brandon Woodruff with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. The two also got to catch up before the game on the field.

“Playing with him growing up, today was special just because we’ve been talking about this since we were 14, and just the first time we see each other on a big league mound,” Brentz said. “Lot of emotions, but it was pretty special.”

Gallagher stands out

As starting catcher Salvador Perez nurses groin tightness that has forced him into the designated hitter role this week, the Royals haven’t been lacking behind the plate with Cam Gallagher’s performance. The backup catcher has been exceptional with pitchers when he fills in for Perez, including Tuesday night, when Gallagher caught a combined shutout against the Brewers.

“His grades last night from receiving metrics, were really good,” manager Mike Matheny said. "You catch a shutout, to us, it’s always a battery. Cam’s done a nice job, receiving well, blocks he’s pulling up in high-leverage situations.”

Gallagher allowed two wild pitches in 67 2/3 innings this season entering Wednesday, and he had two defensive runs saved, according to Fangraphs. The 28-year-old knows that Perez -- who was available to catch on Tuesday if needed -- is the starter, and Gallagher isn’t going to get everyday opportunities that often. But he stays ready by catching bullpens for Royals pitchers and going through game plans even when he’s not in the lineup.

“It really is the job description,” Matheny said. “You got to be ready. If something happens, you’re zero to 100… The bullpens are so important to take those very serious and make those as game-like in your mind as you possibly can as far as how you’re receiving, how you’re blocking, even anticipating working on footwork. It’s going through the mindset -- we’re in the last inning, he’s throwing a breaking ball here, it’s an 0-2 pitch, and I got to keep this in front of me.

“Tricking your mind to build up that intensity so that when you get in there, it feels more normal. Easier said than done, but he’s done a great job of it.”

Royals rumblings

• Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (right oblique strain) wasn’t in the lineup for Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday afternoon because he’s headed back to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to try and avoid rain and weather delays in Iowa, where Omaha is playing this week. The Royals want Mondesi to be playing as much as possible as he completes a rehab assignment and nears a return to Kansas City, so he is scheduled to meet the Naturals in Springfield, Mo., where the team was scheduled to face the Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate on Wednesday night.

• Reliever Jesse Hahn faced one batter in Omaha’s game against the Cubs on Wednesday before exiting with the trainer in the bottom of the first inning. The right-hander was making his second rehab appearance after missing a month with a right shoulder impingement.