By MATT PIKE
Samuel Basallo hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 in the opener of a three-game series between last-place teams at Camden Yards.
Baltimore took the lead in the second inning when Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson delivered consecutive RBI singles, driving in Dylan Beavers and Blaze Alexander respectively, against Kansas City starter Luinder Avila. The Royals tied up the game in the fourth inning when Jac Caglianone hit a solo home run and later in the frame Josh Rojas scored Micheael Massey with an RBI double.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Baltimore took the lead back on a solo home run from Alexander. Kansas City was able to tie the game up though in the top of the eighth inning on their second home run of the game, a solo home run from Isaac Collins, before in the bottom half of the inning Basallo hooked a 1-2 slider off Matt Strahm just inside the foul pole in right for his 15th home run of the season, scoring Pete Alonso, and putting the Orioles up 5-3.
Avila allowed three runs in five innings and struck out three. Strahm took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the season, giving up two hits and two runs while striking out two, in one inning of relief. At the plate, Cagilanone was 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Collins was 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Rojas was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Kansas City and Baltimore continue their series tomorrow. Noah Cameron (5-6, 4.77 ERA, 82K's) takes the mound for the Royals against Kyle Bradish (5-9, 3.75 ERA, 101K's) for the Orioles in the middle game. First pitch is at 6:05pm, pregame at 5:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.