Royals bats explode for three home runs in 4-0 shutout of Orioles

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

The Kansas City Royals bounced back from a shutout loss in Friday’s series opener against the series opener, smashing three home runs on way to a 4-0 shutout win on Saturday night at Camden Yards.

After the game got started on time and got through the first inning, the teams had to wait just under an hour to resume play as rain rolled into the area in Baltimore.  Both Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano and Royals starter Kris Bubic, stayed in the game and threw in the bullpen while the field was prepared.

The Royals broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth inning as Jonathan India led off the inning with a double, and later in the inning Maikel Garcia singled to score India.  In the fifth, Cavan Biggio extended the lead with the first of the three home runs, and his first of the season, going to right center field. 

Bubic made it through five innings following the rain delay before giving way to the bullpen, giving up four hits and striking out three while walking one.  Daniel Lynch pitched the sixth and seventh innings, continuing to slow the Orioles lineup, allowing just one hit and walking one, also striking out one batter. 

In the eighth inning, Kyle Isbel needed to see just one pitch from reliever Seranthony Domínguez before adding to the lead with his second home run of the season.  With two outs, Vinnie Pasquantino blasted his team leading fifth home run in the same inning.  The Royals did threaten to add more runs, after Garcia and Michael Massey hit back to back singles, but Hunter Renfroe grounded out to end the inning. 

Lucas Erceg allowed one hit in the bottom of the eighth, but struck out two batters, before John Schreiber closed out game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, to close out the fourth shutout victory for Kansas City this season. With the win, Bubic improves to 3-2 on the season.  Garcia led the way hitting in the win going 3-3 at the plate with one RBI and one walk. 

Kansas City and Baltimore wrap up their series tomorrow.  Michael Lorenzen will pitch the finale for the Royals against Kyle Gibson for the Orioles.  First pitch is at 12:35pm, pregame beginning at noon on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.