The American League East leading Baltimore Orioles went west and dropped two of three to the World Series Champion Kansas City Royals at a packed Kauffman Stadium.
After winning four of their first five series including taking two of three from their A.L. East nemesis the Toronto Blue Jays, the high-flying Orioles were grounded by the Royals.
After splitting the first two games of the series, the Birds were undone by a four run seventh inning, losing 6-1 in the series finale.
The Orioles starter Mike Wright ( 1-2, 6.23 ERA) held the Royals in check for six innings, trailing 2-1 going into the seventh inning. He allowed three hits and three runs in the inning and was replaced by reliever Dylan Bundy. When all was said and done the Royals led 6-1 going into the eighth inning and that offensive burst was the difference in the game.
Wright allowed eight hits and five runs while striking out four in 6.1 innings of work.
Meanwhile, the Oriole’s offensive one of the best in the game and near the top of the AL in home runs was totally shut down by Royals starter Yordano Ventura (2-0, 2.35 ERA) who allowed three singles and one first inning run. He struck out four and walked two in seven innings of work. the Orioles were three up and three down six times in the game.
Another downer for O’s fans was that third baseman Manny Machado’s season’s-starting 16 game hitting streak came to an end. Machado was just one game shy of the franchise record 17-game season-opening hitting streak by former Oriole Davey Johnson.
The middle game of the series was the highlight for the O’s as they won, 8-3. the Orioles were led by their middle of the order sluggers Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo. The pair combined to go seven for 10 with six RBIs including the sixth home run of the season by Davis.
Meanwhile, the Oriole’s starter Tyler Wilson (1-0, 2.77 ERA) who was making his first start of the season, surrendered six hits and three runs while allowing no walks in five innings of work.
The bullpen of Brian Matusz, who was making his first appearance of the season, Mike Givens, who struck out two with the bases loaded and the score 7-3 and Brad Brach struck out four and allowed one hit to complete the victory.
In the first game of the seasons, a KC 4-2 victory, Oriole’s starter Yovani Gallardo gave up three first inning runs and was immediately replaced. It was feared that he might have been injured. Long reliever T. J. McFarland was masterful in relieve as he pitched five innings of shutout baseball.
Meanwhile, the Oriole’s bats were silenced by another Kansas City starter, this time Chris Young. He struck out 10, allowed four hits and two runs while walking one in six innings of work.
The Baltimore offense was led by Machado who hit his sixth home run of the season. Baltimore left Kansas City still in first place in the A.L East with a record of (11-6) while the Royals ended the series with a record of (12-6).
