Vladdy laments costly error: 'I just missed the ball'

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. committed an error that resulted in the Kansas City Royals scoring three unearned runs in the fifth inning of an eventual 3-2 loss Tuesday.

Guerrero was unable to catch the ball on a throw from third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa on what looked like a routine play to end the frame:

"What can I say? I just missed the ball. Period. I just missed it." Guerrero said postgame, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a go-ahead two-run double off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman two batters later, dropping the pitcher to 0-3 on the season despite not allowing an earned run over 6 2/3 innings in his latest start.

Guerrero, who also went 0-for-5 at the plate with two strikeouts, said he apologized to Gausman for the error, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.

"I mean, there's nothing more I can do about it now. It stinks, but I still want Vladdy as my first baseman," Gausman said. "Very confident in his ability over there. ... We're playing really good baseball. Something like that, it's unfortunate that it ended up being as important as it was."

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he expected the play to be made but that the mistake happened at a bad time.

The error was Guerrero's first of the season. The 25-year-old took a step back defensively in 2023 after winning his first Gold Glove in 2022. Offensively, the three-time All-Star is in a funk to begin the new season with a .217/.333/.348 slash line with three homers over 24 games.