Overview

The Royals traded the K for a visit to Camden Yards in Baltimore this weekend for a 3-game series with the Orioles. The Royals came into the series with a record of 8-15, and the Orioles had a similar record of 9-16. Friday’s and Saturday’s contests were postponed due to inclement weather, so the two teams played a doubleheader on Sunday then an early game Monday. 

The Royals lost the series 2-1. In a series the team needed badly to righten the ship, they couldn’t come away with a series win. The Royals now drop to 9-17, while the Orioles find themselves at 11-17. 

Game 1 - Royals Win Back-and-Forth Game 6-4

Starters: Zack Greinke (KC) vs. Jordan Lyles (BAL)

The Os jumped on Greinke early in game 1, recording 3 hits in the first inning, but he was able to escape without allowing any runs. However, they came back in the 2nd with a Jorge Mateo single and steal and a Cedric Mullins ground rule double. The Royals tied it the next inning with one of their own on a double from Kyle Isbel and a single from Edward Olivares. They broke the tie in the top of the 5th after Bobby Witt, Jr. and Kyle Isbel singled, then Witt scored on an error. Andrew Benintendi hit a sac fly to make it 3-1. The Orioles started chipping away in the bottom half with an Austin Hays single and a Ryan Mountcastle double. They retook the lead in the 7th when Trey Mancini singled but was caught in a double play, then Hays walked, Mountcastle singled, and Rougned Odor doubled. The Royals quickly tied it again in the 8th after singles from Benintendi and Salvador Perez and a Ryan O’Hearn sac fly. Then, in the top of the 9th, they got the clutch inning they were hoping for. Nicky Lopez got on via fielding error, and another error got him to third, where Michael A. Taylor singled him home. After a Benintendi single, Perez hit an RBI to make it 6-4, and the Orioles couldn’t come back in the bottom of the 9th. 

Zack Greinke had a good-but-lucky outing, going 5.2 innings while allowing 10 hits but only 2 runs. However, it was Taylor Clarke who recorded the win after a flawless 8th inning. Jorge Lopez, a name familiar with many Royals fans, recorded the loss despite not having any earned runs over 1.1 innings. Scott Barlow got the save after pitching the 9th and allowing two hits but no runs. 

Final: Royals 6-4 Orioles

Most Notable Player: Andrew Benintendi (2-4, R, RBI)

Game 2 - Orioles Get Doubleheader Split, Win 4-2

Starters: Daniel Lynch (KC) vs. Bruce Zimmermann (BAL)

The Orioles again wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the second game of this doubleheader, when, in the bottom of the 1st, Cedric Mullins and Trey Mancini singled, Austin Hays walked, Ryan Mountcastle singled, and Ramon Urias hit a sac fly to take the lead, 3-0. The Royals got some of it back in the top of the 2nd when Hunter Dozier tripled and Whit Merrifield hit a sac fly. The scoreboard was quiet until the bottom of the 5th, when Urias doubled and Tyler Nevin hit an RBI single. The Royals matched that score with one of their own when Salvador Perez doubled and Dozier hit him home. Neither team was able to get more than one hit in each inning from then on, and the Orioles took the win 4-2. 

Bruce Zimmermann had a nice outing, going 6.0 innings while allowing 5 hits and two runs and striking out 5. Daniel Lynch, coming off a great performance, was charged with the loss after pitching only 3.2 innings and allowing 4 hits and 2 runs, along with 4 walks. Dillon Tate recorded the save, pitching a 1-hit 9th while striking out 2. 

Final: Orioles 4-2 Royals

Most Notable Player: Bruce Zimmermann (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 K)

Game 3 - Orioles Use Big 5th Inning to Win Rubber Match 6-1

Starters: Carlos Hernandez (KC) vs. Tyler Wells (BAL)

The Royals were able to get on the board first when Bobby Witt, Jr. singled and stole second, then Ryan O’Hearn hit an RBI single. The game was extremely defensive until the bottom of the 5th inning. Tyler Nevin walked, Anthony Bemboom doubled, then Jorge Mateo singled Nevin home. On a throwing error by MJ Melendez, the runners advanced and Bemboom scored. Trey Mancini singled home Mateo to make it 3-1. Anthony Santander was walked and Austin Hays was hit by a pitch, then Carlos Hernandez threw a wild pitch and Mancini scored. Ryan Mountcastle singled home Santander and Hays, and Hernandez was pulled after letting the deficit increase to 6-1. While the Royals held the offense in check after the 5th, they were only able to muster two more hits, and the game ended 6-1. 

Tyler Wells recorded the win, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing 5 hits and only 1 run. Four Os relievers combined for 3 innings with only one hit. Carlos Hernandez got the loss after a good first four innings but falling apart in the 5th, and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 7 hits and 6 runs along with two walks. 

Final: Orioles 6-1 Royals 

Most Notable Player: Tyler Wells (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 K)

Takeaways

The weather perfectly depicted this series for the Royals: dark and gloomy. Against a typically weak Orioles team, the boys in blue dropped two of three “get-right” opportunities. Zack Greinke showed a pretty good outing, but the offense overall was poor. The offense has had troubles all season with consistency and big-play potential. Perhaps a lineup change is needed, but the Royals keep falling deeper through the standings, now down to 9-17. Overall, an awkward series full of postponements brought even more light to the Royals’ offensive woes.

Looking Ahead

The Royals will look to straighten things out and hopefully awaken their bats tomorrow as they head to Arlington to take on the Rangers. This will continue a stretch of very short rest for the team, as their next off day isn’t until May 25. The probable pitchers aren’t very clear coming off of a hectic doubleheader, but Brad Keller is slated to go against the Rangers’ Martin Perez tomorrow, and hopes to continue his very strong season. The Royals will enter the series with a record of 9-17, while the Rangers will hold a record of 11-16.