López didn’t have any easy innings and was upset with himself after giving up a few two-strike hits, but he didn’t give up any runs after the first inning. He plunked his first batter with an errant sinker, then gave up a pair of hits, which included a two-out RBI double to Cavan Biggio.

He pitched around a leadoff double in the second inning after a sacrifice bunt attempt turned into an infield pop-up, striking out the final two batters in the frame. López stranded two runners in the third inning with a strikeout and a flyout.

Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals starshortstop, opened the fifth inning with a single to center. He stole second base, but he didn’t advance further as López retired his next five batters.

“The biggest piece of growth for myself was not to beat myself up about that on the mound,” López said. “Obviously, I go in the dugout, and I’m like, ‘Well, shoot, I could have made a better pitch.’ On the mound, I was beating myself up a little bit, but I’m like, ‘OK, I cannot let this guy score. What do I need to do to execute a quality pitch right here?’ ”