​BALTIMORE (AP) — Leody Taveras went deep, driving in three runs, while Samuel Basallo added a solo homer as the Baltimore Orioles routed the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep. The win kept Baltimore rolling into the All-Star break with its first four-game winning streak of the season.
Taveras opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning, a blast measured at about 448 feet. He also contributed an RBI single during a decisive five-run sixth inning that pushed Baltimore ahead 7-2. In the seventh, a tense moment briefly interrupted play when several players from both sides converged near the plate after Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg hit Blaze Alexander on the arm with a pitch. The off-target pitch came on the heels of Basallo’s home run that had made the score 8-2. Alexander shouted at Erceg, prompting Orioles manager Craig Albernaz to step in and help restrain him. Players from both dugouts and bullpens moved in, but no punches were thrown, no one was shoved, and no ejections followed.
Alexander finished with two hits and scored twice for Baltimore. The Orioles carried a lead into the break and extended their best stretch of the season, as they entered the All-Star break with a four-game winning streak for the first time this year.
The Royals received a bright spark from Lane Thomas, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, but Kansas City was swept for the eighth time this season—the most in the majors. The last-place Royals dropped to 38-59, 21 games below .500 for the season, their largest deficit to date.
Baltimore’s sixth inning featured a miscue in the sunlight when Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone lost a fly ball, helping spark the inning, along with a balk that brought in a run. Taveras added to the scoring with an RBI single to make it 3-2, and Jeremiah Jackson delivered a pinch-hit RBI double before Taveras scored on a balk by Matt Strahm (3-3).
Shane Baz, who had a solid efficiency-of-work outing, lasted 4 2/3 innings, throwing 104 pitches while registering nine strikeouts and giving up one earned run. Grant Wolfram (2-2) earned the win, becoming the second of Baltimore’s five relievers to figure into the decision.
Looking ahead after the All-Star break, Kansas City will host San Diego on Friday night to reopen its schedule, while Baltimore will head to Houston for a Friday night contest.