Estévez made things a bit interesting by allowing a one-out single to Ty France, but he battled back to get Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement on fly balls to center field to end the ballgame. He has been outstanding in the ninth inning for the Royals this season, registering a 2.49 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 52/22 K/BB ratio over 65 innings while converting 41 of his first 47 save chances.

Estévez didn’t make this save easy. He allowed singles to the first two hitters he faced and then fell behind Dominic Canzone 2-0. Luckily, he forced Canzone to ground into a double play which significantly dulled the threat. In the end, he became the first pitcher in the league to earn their 40th save so far this season.

This was a true bullpen game for the Royals, as Jonathan Bowlan opened and no one pitched more than two innings. Luinder Avila came away with the win, his first in the majors. Estévez now leads the majors in saves by three, with his 39 outpacing Robert Suarez’s 36.