NEW YORK — Tyler Tolbert set a major league record for hits in 12 straight games, finishing 5-for-6 on Tuesday night and leading the Kansas City Royals to a wild comeback victory over the New York Mets, 16-12.
Batting in the ninth, the right fielder hit a two-run homer in the second inning and singled in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. Tolbert’s last three hits were infield hits. He left in the ninth.
Tolbert tied the record set by Chicago’s Johnny Kling in 1902 and equaled Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers in 1952.
The sophomore grinned as he walked back to first base after his record-breaking hit. An image appeared on the Citi Field scoreboard celebrating his achievement.
AJ Minter retired Tolbert in the ninth. The remainder of the announced crowd of 32,734 applauded Tolbert, and his teammates cheered as they gathered on the top step of their dugout.
Tolbert went 2-for-2 on Saturday night against Philadelphia before being pulled from the forward position. He then started Monday at shortstop and went 5-for-5 with a homer, his first of the season.
Every starter except Jacques Caglianone had at least one RBI for the Royals, who trailed 9-4 before tying the game with five runs in the fifth and taking a seven-run lead in the seventh against Matt Seelinger (0-1), who was making his major league debut.
Lane Thomas went 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Tolbert scored four runs and drove in two.
The Mets were 200–1 when scoring 12 or more runs, losing 13–12 in San Francisco on May 24, 2022, despite Joc Pederson’s performance with three homers and eight RBIs.
Beck Way (1-0), the Royals’ fourth pitcher, got the last two outs of the seventh. Seth Lugo drove in a career-high nine runs, six earned, in 4 1/3 innings.
Rookie AJ Ewing hit and reached base in all five at-bats for the Mets, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and four runs scored. Juan Soto hit his 20th homer, a three-run shot.
The Royals have not yet announced a starter for Wednesday night, when RHP Christian Scott (2-1, 3.49 ERA) takes the mound for the Mets.