The Kansas City Royals put together a strong all around effort at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night, beating the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 to open a three game weekend series.
Salvador Perez doubled to left field scoring Bobby Witt Jr to open the scoring for Kansas City in the first inning. Baltimore took the lead in the second, a single by Heston Kjerstad first driving in Ryan O'Hearn to tie the game up. Kjerstad later came around to score in the inning, from there the Royals defense held the Orioles off the board.
The Royals took the lead back for good in the bottom of the fourth inning. Maikel Garcia continued his hot start to the season, a single to center field driving in both Perez and Cavan Biggio. The Kansas City defense was also on full display in the game, in the sixth inning, a gold glove winner last year Seth Lugo caught a line drive back at him from Jordan Westburg.
Kansas City added the final insurance runs in the eighth inning with a five spot. Garcia drove in another run with his third double of the season, scoring Mark Canha. Garcia later came around to score with on a fielders choice, in which Kyle Isbel reached first. With the bases loaded, Vinnie Pasquantino singled to drive in the final three runs, scoring Isbel, MJ Melendez, and Witt Jr.
Seth Lugo earned his first win of the season, after a no decision in his first start, pitching six innings and striking out two, giving up five hits and two runs, just one earned, while walking one. Garcia (2-4, 3 RBIs), Perez (2-5, 1 RBI), and Pasquantino (2-5, 3 RBIs) led the way hitting.
The Royals and Orioles are back in action again tomorrow. Michael Wacha will start for Kansas City against Tomoyuki Sugano for Baltimore. First pitch will be at 3:10 pm and the game will be aired on the FanDuel Sports Network.
There will be NO coverage on KFEQ due to the NCAA Men's Final Four.
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