Royals Report: 3 Things About Lapse In Baltimore

The Royals lost their fifth straight game, falling to the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 at Camden Yards. The KC Royals led 1-0 in the seventh inning, before the Orioles blasted three home runs to put away the game.

The Kansas City Royals slide to 30-27, 2.0 games behind the Indians in the AL Central. The Orioles improved to 33-23 and remain tied for first in the AL East.

The KC Royals took a slim 1-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning on an unearned run when Baltimore second baseman Jonathan Schoop slammed a relay throw into a sliding Cheslor Cuthbert‘s elbow. The ball flew wild and allowed Paulo Orlando to score the lead run instead of the Orioles turning an inning-ending double play.

The mistake proved meaningless when Danny Duffy, who had held the Orioles scoreless with eight strikeouts, gave up solo home runs to Mark Trumbo and Matt Weiters to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.

Luke Hochevar failed to close the door in relief, allowing another run in the seventh. The Orioles put away the game when Manny Machado slammed Baltimore’s third solo shot off Kelvin Herrera, which was the first home run he has allowed this season.

It was a truly disappointing game when the Kansas City Royals appeared to have caught a lucky break that might help them break out of their losing streak. Instead, the Kansas City Royals blew their second straight game while holding a lead after the sixth inning.

On to my observations about Monday’s crummy game:

Next: Danny Duffy