Royals slug seven home runs in Baltimore home run derby winning 11-6

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles combined for 11 home runs in a slugfest at Camden Yards where the Royals came out on top 11-6 in the series finale. 

Despite hitting three home runs in the win on Saturday, the Royals entered Sunday’s finale still at the bottom of the league in home runs with 18.  Kansas City slugged seven of the 11 home runs in the win.  The seven home runs from Kansas City marked a new single game franchise record. . 

Baltimore and Kansas City traded blows early before the Royals pulled away.  Garcia’s first home run of the game gave Kansas City their first lead of the game in the second inning.  But in the bottom half, Holliday answered with his first home run of the game to tie it up.  The Orioles then took the lead in the third inning, Adley Rutschman doubling to drive in Gunnar Henderson who starter Michael Lorenzen had walked. 

The Royals though continued to trade punches with Baltimore, taking the lead back in the fourth inning.  Salvador Perez singled and Hunter Renfroe doubled, setting up Drew Waters to come through with a single into left field, scoring both Perez and Renfroe for the 3-2 lead. 

In the bottom half of the inning, Holliday hit his second home run of the game, once again tying it up.  It was the first multi home run game of Holliday’s young career.  Then, in the fifth inning, Jonathan India slugged the fourth home run of the game to give Kansas City the lead back once again, India’s first home run as a Royal. 

In the bottom of the fifth, the slugfest continued, as Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn both hit solo home runs to again give Baltimore the lead back.  But the Royals tied the game up again in the sixth inning, Garcia hitting his second home run of the game, for the first multi home run game of his career. 

Kansas City took the lead for good in the seventh inning, keeping the home run derby going, with back to back homes by Bobby Witt Jr and Vinnie Pasquantino.  In the eighth inning, recently called up catcher Luke Maile hit his first home run as a Royal to extend the lead, before Witt Jr added another RBI with a double driving in India.

The Orioles added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ryan Mountcastle driving in O’Hearn who doubled.  In the ninth inning, Kansas City added more insurance, with another home run, the first of the day that was not a solo shot as Michael Massey hit a two run home run, driving in Cavan Biggio, who pinch ran for Perez. 

Angel Zerpa earned the win in relief, pitching 1.2 innings giving up one run on three hits.  In a no decision, starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen pitched 4.2 innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking one.  Garcia (3-5, 2 HR, 2 RBI), Pasquantino (3-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI), Witt Jr. (2-5, 1 HR, 2 RBIs), and Waters (2-5, 2 RBIs) led the way at the plate in the win. 

Kansas City returns to the comforts of Kauffman Stadium tomorrow, beginning a four game series against the Chicago White Sox.  Cole Ragans is scheduled to start for the Royals against Shane Smith for the White Sox.  First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame coverage begins at 6pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM). 

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