KANSAS CITY – The Kansas City Royals didn’t need a hit to find their way back into the win column on Tuesday night. Instead, they relied on gravity and grit, as Maikel Garcia raced home on a game-ending wild pitch to secure a 6-5 comeback victory over the Baltimore Orioles, snapping a dismal eight-game losing streak.
The ninth inning began with patient plate appearances from Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr., who both drew walks to put the winning runs on base. After the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch by Baltimore’s Ryan Helsley (0-2), the tension peaked during Salvador Perez’s at-bat. Helsley uncorked a slider in the dirt that skipped away from catcher Adley Rutschman, allowing Garcia to sprint home and ignite a long-awaited celebration at Kauffman Stadium.
Bullpen Redemption
The victory provided much-needed relief for a Kansas City bullpen that had been the primary culprit during the recent slide. During the eight-game losing streak, Royals relievers:
- Suffered six individual losses.
- Surrendered six home runs.
- Posted a ballooning 7.71 ERA.
Lucas Erceg (1-1) managed to flip the script, navigating a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn the win—the first for a Royals reliever since April 7.
Back-and-Forth Battle
The Orioles jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning, powered by Coby Mayo’s towering 439-foot home run. However, the Royals chipped away behind Kyle Isbel, who broke an 0-for-13 slump with three hits, including two doubles. Three sacrifice flies eventually gave Kansas City a 4-3 lead heading into the late frames.
The lead swapped hands again in the eighth. Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman, returning from a 10-game stint on the injured list, mashed his first home run of the season to put the Orioles ahead 5-4. That lead was short-lived, as Michael Massey responded in the bottom half with a leadoff solo shot, snapping Rico Garcia’s 11-inning hitless streak and setting the stage for the ninth-inning heroics.
On the Mound
- Kris Bubic (KC): Allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings.
- Shane Baz (BAL): Surrendered four runs on eight hits across 6 1/3 innings.
- Ryan Helsley (BAL): Charged with the loss after two wild pitches in the final frame.
The Orioles have now lost six of their last eight games.
Up Next
The teams conclude the series on Wednesday afternoon. The pitching matchup features:
- Baltimore: RHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 6.19 ERA)
- Kansas City: RHP Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.00 ERA)
