Kansas City Royals end road trip with 9-3 victory over Orioles

Apr 27, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher

(33) throws in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Photo by: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Royals (12-12) starter James Shields (3-2, 2.03) tossed three-hit ball over seven innings of work Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards as the Royals topped the Baltimore Orioles 9-3.

Shields allowed two runs, both earned, on two walks and six strikeouts. Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 5.40) took the loss for the O’s.

The game moved at a slow pace at first, with the Royals nursing a 2-0 lead through four. In the fifth, however, Alcides Escobar singled to lead off the inning. One out later, Nori Aoki singled moving Escobar to third. Omar Infante, who had six runs batted in on the afternoon, doubled to left, scoring both runners and increasing the Royals lead to 4-0.

After a Nelson Cruz 2-run homer in the sixth cut the lead in half, Infante answered in the seventh with a 2-out, 2-run blast, scoring Aoki and increasing the margin to 6-2. Later in the inning, Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler singled ahead of an Alex Gordon double that plated both runners, making the score 8-2. Mike Moustakas added an RBI double in the ninth.

The O’s scored one run off Greg Holland in the bottom of the ninth.

NOTABLES: Every Royals starter had at least one hit. Omar Infante‘s home run finally put the Royals in double digits in that category (10) for the season.

NEXT: The Toronto Blue Jays come to town to face the Royals in a 3-game set. Dustin McGowan (1-1, 6.88) squares off against Jason Vargas (2-0, 1.54) at 7:10 p.m.

WRITER’S NOTE: Yes, even though the post-game voice who hosts the radio call-in show dismissed this fact, it’s true that Manager Ned Yost brought in Greg Holland to “preserve” an 8-2 game today, yet left Holland sitting on the pine in yesterday’s extra-inning loss. Now, we all know he just wanted Holland to have a little work tonight. Yet, even though Yost told the Kansas City Star that he would never use Holland in a game like yesterday until it was a save situation, it’s difficult to grasp any rationale for his use today vs. his need yesterday. The easiest way to approach the conundrum, if I were a radio host, would be, I suppose, to just hang up on any caller who would sensibly bring up this puzzler. That would teach ’em.