BALTIMORE — Samuel Basallo delivered the game-winning blow on Friday night, launching a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
The win gives the Orioles the opening nod in this three-game series between two teams looking to climb out of their respective divisional basements.
Basallo Delivers in the Eighth
With the game knotted at 3-all in the eighth, the Orioles offense went to work against Royals reliever Matt Strahm (3-2). Pete Alonso ignited the frame with a leadoff single, setting the stage for Basallo. On a 1-2 count, Basallo hooked a slider just inside the right-field foul pole for his 15th home run of the season. The young slugger celebrated the milestone by emphatically tossing his bat toward the Baltimore dugout as the ball cleared the wall.
Earlier in the contest, Blaze Alexander also went deep for the Orioles, launching his fourth home run of the year.
Starting Pitching and Late Shifts
Baltimore carried a 3-2 lead into the top of the eighth inning. Orioles manager Craig Albernaz elected to stick with starter Brandon Young, who had thrown a highly efficient 77 pitches through seven frames. However, the decision backfired when Kansas City’s Isaac Collins capped off an intense eight-pitch at-bat by launching a solo shot to center field, tying the game and chasing Young from the mound.
Young finished the night allowing three runs over seven-plus innings while striking out five.
The Orioles bullpen slammed the door from there. Rico Garcia (4-1) earned the victory after entering in relief of Young and retiring all three batters he faced in the eighth. Andrew Kittredge then stepped up in the ninth, working around a one-out double by Michael Massey to secure his third save of the season—and his second in consecutive days.
Early Inning Back-and-Forth
The Orioles initially jumped ahead in the second inning against Royals starter Luinder Avila. Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson sparkied the rally, delivering consecutive RBI singles to put Baltimore on the board.
The Royals bit back in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2. Jac Caglianone led off the frame with a solo shot to right field, and Josh Rojas drove in Massey with a two-out double. Alexander’s solo home run in the bottom half of the fourth briefly restored Baltimore’s lead before the eighth-inning drama.
Avila completed five innings for Kansas City, allowing three runs and striking out three in the no-decision. The loss marks the third straight defeat for the Royals, who have now dropped 11 of their last 15 contests.
Up Next
The series continues Saturday night at Camden Yards. The Royals will send left-hander Noah Cameron (5-6, 4.77 ERA) to the mound to face Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (5-9, 3.75 ERA).
