Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Not even three hours, nine minutes worth of
rain could cool off the Royals' bats, as Kansas City slammed four home runs
and topped the Orioles, 7-3.
Alex Gordon hit two homers, while Salvador Perez and Billy Butler also went
deep as the Royals won for the fourth time in five games.
Luis Mendoza (6-8) tossed six scoreless innings before running into trouble in
the seventh. In all, the right-hander allowed three runs on seven hits and two
walks in six-plus innings.
The Royals took Chris Tillman (5-2) deep three times in the win. Tillman, who
saw a career-best four-game win streak snapped, surrendered six runs in 5 2/3
innings.
Rookie sensation Manny Machado drove in another run and doubled for the
Orioles, who dropped two of three to start this four-game set.
After the long rain delay, Gordon started the game with a bang, crushing his
second leadoff home run in three games and spotting the Royals a quick lead.
Kansas City added to its lead in the second after Lorenzo Cain led off with a
base hit. Perez followed with a home run for the second straight night, giving
the Royals a three-run lead.
Butler continued the hit parade in the third inning when he blasted a towering
fly ball over the fence in right-center field to make the score 4-0.
The Royals finally chased Tillman in the sixth inning with a two-out rally.
Tillman plunked Perez and walked Jeff Francoeur to end his night, but Miguel
Socolovich served up a single to Eric Hosmer, scoring Perez. A delayed steal
by Hosmer allowed Francoeur to score and expanded Kansas City's lead to six.
Gordon visited the left-field seats again in the seventh inning with another
solo homer. It was his first multi-homer game since September 2, 2007 and the
second of his career.
The Orioles showed signs of life in the seventh. Wilson Betemit walked and
Chris Davis singled to start the frame. Machado ripped a double down the
third-base line to put Baltimore on the board. Omar Quintanilla lined a base
hit to center field to score two more and pull the O's within four runs, but
Baltimore could not get any closer.
Kelvin Herrera put out the fire in the seventh inning and tossed a scoreless
eighth before Tim Collins sealed the game with a perfect ninth.
Game Notes
Tillman matched a career high with three home runs allowed, which he has done
four times. The last time he did so was on September 24, 2010 at Toronto...The
Orioles unveiled a statue honoring Eddie Murray before the game...Both teams
went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The Royals stranded four on
base while the Orioles left seven.
The Sports Network