The Royals put up a great offensive performance and were able to over come a seven run deficent, before giving the lead back to Balitmore late.
Coming off a night of being shut out, the Orioles put up 14 runs by taking advantage of the Royals, by gaining free bases. Kansas City’s pitching staff walked nine Baltimore stole five bases. That is part of Baltimore’s strength as they are near the top of the league in both stolen bases and walks. That is the third time this season Baltimore has had five stolen bases in a game. The free bases started in the first inning with an error
A blooping pop-up was in no man’s land near the foul line. Michael Massey Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez all ran to catch it. Melendez was able to make it to the ball and it hit the palm of his glove. However, he was not able to secure it giving Baltimore a man on second base.
That error by Melendez turned into two runs. Right fielder Antony Santander blasted the ball to deep right field.
Lyles loaded the bases with a hit walk and hit by pitch all with one out. Mullens then cleared the bases with a double that bounced off the center field wall. To make the score 5-0.
Melendez did start the seocnd inning right. He hit an elevated fastball to corner field for his sixth double of the year. Melendez was able to get to third on a Nick Pratto ground out. Miakel Garcia drove in his second RBI of the year with a soft line drive to right field. That would be the only run Kansas City puts on the board to lessen the deficit to four runs.
The Royals and Orioles went back and forth to add more runs on the board over the next couple of innings.
Lyles gave up a second two-run home run of the day to Henderson. That is the ninth homerun given up by Lyles over his last five starts
The Royals responded with a three-run inning of their own with a solo home run from Freddy Fermin and a two-run home run off the bat of Salvador Perez. That was Perez’s onehundreth homerun in kauffman stadium.
Kansas City continued to hit the long ball in the fourth inning with Kyle Isbel hitting a home run to right center field.
Cionel Perez came in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs to limit the damage. Vinnie was able to capitalize to drive in Fermin. Massy drove in Pratto off a slider that stayed over the middle of the plate. To make it a one-run game.
To start the sixth inning Austin Cox got his major league debut for the Royals coming in relief of Lyles. He had a scoreless first inning setting down Baltimore one two three.
Kansas City did blow an opportunity during the sixth inning.
The Royals put runners on second and third with a Fermin walk and Whitt Jr. hitting a ball all the way out to the warning track. The bases became loaded when with one out after Pasquantino popped out in the infield and Perez was internally walked.
Cox came back out in the seventh inning to start the inning with a leadoff walk. Cox did get his first big league strikeout. He also kept the Baltimore offense off the scoreboard for the second straight inning.
Kansas City continued the pressure in the bottom of the seventh inning with Garcia hitting a lead-off double. With Massy attempting a bunt Garcia easily stole third base. That was Garcai’s first career stolen base.
Due to the stolen base, Massy no longer attempted to bunt and was able to work a walk. Isbel surprised the infield with a late bunt that scored Garcia and Isbel was able to get to first base safely. Unfortunately for him, Isbel grabbed his left hamstring and was pulled from the game.
Kansas City would take the lead after getting a base hit with a softly hit ground ball between the first and second baseman. Making the score 9-8 in favor of the Royals.
The eighth inning would cause some problems for Kansas City. Aroldis Chapman would walk the lead-off batter, get called for a balk and then the runner would steal third base putting the potential tying run on third with nobody out. After all of that Chapman then walked the second batter who would steal second base putting the go-ahead runner on second base with no outs.
Both of those base runners came in to score after a soft line drive was hit to center field as the Orioles retook the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Chapman walked three batters in the inning.
Royals Manager Matt Quatraro said that despite the blown lead and eventually loss he would make that same decision again.
“I would talke that any day of the week being able to bring him (Chapman) in the game with the lead in the eight,” Quatraro said. “What went wrong he lost the zone there, uncharacteristically.”
Garret ended the inning with a great response to a ball hit right back to him. He got one out at the plate and Fermin sent the ball to first base to get a one-two-three double play.
However, the Orioles offense continued to be relentless and they added more insurance runs in the ninth inning making the score 13-9. Kansas City was not done scoring either. The Royals added one run to make the final score 13-10.
Kansas City starts their weekend series against the Oakland A’s on Friday night with the first pitch at 7:10
