Once the extra innings start for the Kansas City Royals their power strokes come alive. Once again the Royals were clutch during the top of the top of the 10th inning as Alex Gordon drove a solo homer over the right field fence off of Darren O’Day breaking the 5-5 tie. Two batters later Mike Moustakas delivered a 2-run shot off of Zach Britton extending the Royals lead to 8-5.
Alex Gordon had an up and down game to say the lease. He drove in 3 runs on a bases clearing double during the 3rd inning, got picked off during the 5th inning, made a diving catch in the 8th, and delivered the tie-breaking homer in the 10th. Before Gordon’s double that cleared the bases, Alcides Escobar hit his 22nd career homerun during the top of the 3rd off of Baltimore’s Ace Chris Tillman giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead.
James Shields was cruising through 4 innings but the Orioles cut into the 5-1 lead during the 5th making it a close game at 5-4. Nelson Cruz ripped a RBI double to right before Ryan Flaherty delivered a two-out, two-run single.
The Orioles tried to rally in the 10th. Delmon Young, inserted as a pinch-hitter, hit an RBI single with two outs, but closer Greg Holland retired Nick Markakis on a grounder with two runners on for the final out.
Wade Davis received the win after throwing 2 shutout innings, while Darren O’Day got the loss and Greg Holland collected the save.
Up next we have young rookie Ventura for the Royals up against Bud Norris of the Orioles. The game will be played Saturday at 4:07 pm EST in Baltimore.
