​BALTIMORE (AP) — Samuel Basallo delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game set between teams stuck at the bottom of their leagues Friday night. Blaze Alexander contributed a home run for Baltimore as well, while Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins went deep for Kansas City, which has now lost three straight and 11 of its last 15 games.
Matt Strahm (3-2) came on with the game tied at 3-3 and gave up a leadoff single to Pete Alonso. Basallo followed by sneaking a 1-2 slider just inside the right-field foul pole for his 15th homer of the season, then tossed his bat with both hands toward the Orioles’ dugout in a moment of celebration. The Orioles had taken a 3-2 lead to the eighth, and manager Craig Albernaz opted to keep starter Brandon Young in the game despite his pitch count at 77.
That decision backfired briefly as Isaac Collins launched a center-field homer on an eight-pitch at-bat to give Kansas City a fresh lead opportunity and chase Young. The right-hander finished with three runs allowed in seven-plus innings while fanning five batters.
Rico Garcia (4-1) came on to retire the three batters he faced in the eighth, preserving the one-run edge for Baltimore. In the ninth, Andrew Kittredge navigated around Michael Massey’s one-out double to record his third save, second in as many days, despite some late pressure.
Baltimore had drawn first blood in the second inning, getting on the scoreboard when Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson each ripped RBI singles off Royals starter Luinder Avila. Kansas City answered in the fourth, tying the game with a two-run rally. Caglianone opened the inning with a line-drive hit to right, and Josh Rojas followed with a two-out double that brought home Massey.
Alexander added some insurance in the fourth, launching his fourth home run of the season off Avila to give Baltimore a brief lead before the late drama unfolded. Avila pitched five innings, surrendering three runs and striking out three while remaining in the game for the Royals.
On Saturday, Kansas City left-hander Noah Cameron (5-6, 4.77 ERA) will face Baltimore right-hander Kyle Bradish (5-9, 3.75). The matchup promises to be another pivotal one as both teams look to shake off recent skids and gain momentum in a tightly contested series.