The Royals kept climbing back into the game Friday night in Baltimore, and each time they did, the Orioles had an answer.
That pattern defined a 5-3 loss at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, another road defeat for a club that has had too many of them. Kansas City fell to 38-57 and stayed stuck in last place in the American League Central, with its 17-32 road record continuing to drag down a season already marked by injuries, pitching problems and base-running issues.
The Royals have been better at Kauffman Stadium than they’ve been away from home, but 21-26 there still doesn’t come close to solving the bigger problem. Entering Friday’s games, only the Angels and Rockies had fewer road wins.
Luinder Avila took the ball and had an uneven night, giving up three runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out three. Baltimore jumped on him for two runs in the second inning, but Kansas City answered in the fourth.
Jac Caglianone launched a home run, and Josh Rojas followed with an RBI double to tie the game. The Orioles, though, wasted no time reclaiming the lead when Blaze Alexander homered in the bottom of the fourth off Avila.
The Royals fought back again in the eighth. Isaac Collins sent a drive to dead center for a home run to tie it once more.
But Matt Strahm couldn’t keep the game there. He allowed a single to Pete Alonso and then watched Colton Cowser line a two-run homer just inside the right-field line, a shot that held up as the difference.
Caglianone’s homer was his 10th since June 1, one of the reasons he was invited to take part in Monday’s All-Star Game Home Run Derby.
There was also an injury update on Maikel Garcia. The Royals third baseman, out since June 23 with a muscle strain in his left hand, is expected to begin hitting again during the All-Star Game break, manager Matt Quatraro said.
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