Kansas City Royals defeat Baltimore Orioles 9-4 – MLB Update
Kansas City Royals played two big innings to overpower the rivals Baltimore Orioles 9-4 in the last game of the three-game series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Thursday, August 4 to clinch the series 2-1.
Royals scored three runs in the first inning and six in the bottom of the sixth. Designated hitter Billy Butler, right-fielder Jeff Francoeur and Yamaico Navarro each scored an RBI single in the first while in the sixth, Miguel Cabrera, Billy Butler added
another RBI single and Navarro and Chris Getz touched RBI doubles.
These two innings helped the Royals remove the pressure of the scoreless innings from the second to fifth. Although, Royals again struggled after the sixth inning but their nine runs have cleared the road towards their win.
Left-fielder Alex Gordon showed another performance touching four hits in five at-bats and scored two runs. The six-year veteran slugger started to express his command this year, in which he entered with .244 ERA and improved this to .311 after getting out
in his final at-bat.
"He's as close as you can get to dominating right now," Royals’ manager Ned Yost said. "He's putting great at-bats together. He is hitting the ball hard. He is hitting doubles, home runs."
On the other hand, their starter Jeff Francis gave up four runs, one each in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth. The dazzling hurler, who destroyed the Cleveland Indians in the previous start with his eight scoreless innings, struck-out three batters and
allowed ten hits over five innings.
Orioles’ starter was stunned after the sixth inning as he has maintained his power at right location because of three destructing runs in the first. However, allowing six runs on twelve hits over just five innings caused him the ninth loss of the season
to send him 6-9 with 4.66 ERA.
"I told myself 'It's not going to happen,'” Britton said of the first inning. "Especially after that error I knew I have to make some pitches. It was nice to get out of it after that and then to throw some fairly good innings was nice, too."
Orioles’ Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and Chris Davis drove in runs while J.J. Hardy launched a homer in the fifth inning.
Royals won the series 2-1. The Orioles won the first game 8-2 but their impetus torn apart in the second outing when Royals bat crushed six runs. With built up confidence, the Royals now will host Detroit Tigers on August 5 for three game series. It will
be interesting to see how the Royals carry their winning momentum forward in to their next series.
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