While the Baltimore Orioles momentarily halted their recent struggles, the Kansas City Royals continue to slide.
The visiting Orioles can build on a needed victory by handing the reeling Royals a ninth straight loss when the teams continue their series on Tuesday night.
Baltimore managed just six hits over 12 innings Monday but won 7-5 in the opener of a three-game set at Kansas City.
Samuel Basallo had an RBI single in the ninth inning to tie the game at 1-1. He added another RBI single in the 12th before Leody Taveras clubbed a grand slam for the Orioles, who won for just the second time in the last seven games.
“That’s what we are able to do, and we are so happy,” Taveras told MASN.
The Orioles last won back-to-back games during a three-game run from April 11-13.
“It’s just sticking with their approach and our plan,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said.
Taveras is 2-for-2 against Tuesday’s scheduled starter Kris Bubic (2-1, 3.97 ERA), who has alternated good and bad starts through his first four outings of 2026. The left-hander will look to bounce back after he gave up five runs, six hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings of Thursday’s 10-9 loss at Detroit.
“Just trying to do too much,” Bubic said. “So now, it’s about putting the pieces together.”
There’s a good chance Bubic can do that versus Baltimore, against which he is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in five appearances (four starts). In winning both starts against the Orioles last season, Bubic allowed one unearned run over 11 2/3 innings.
However, it has not been pitching that’s doomed Kansas City during its longest losing streak since a 10-game rut in 2023. The Royals have totaled just 27 runs and struck 73 times over the last eight games.
On Monday, Kansas City rapped out 14 hits but stranded 16 runners, including the bases loaded three times in three different innings without scoring.
“The only way we can (start to win games) is with each other,” first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino told the Royals’ official website.
“When you’re going through it, you can question everything. But, you got to find a way through it. And, that’s why I keep talking about keeping your head up, because it can happen quick.”
Pasquantino is batting just .149 with 22 strikeouts this season. Meanwhile, All-Star teammate Maikel Garcia had three hits Monday to raise his average to .272.
Garcia and Pasquantino are a combined 5-for-12 versus scheduled Baltimore starter Shane Baz.
The Orioles tenure for Baz (0-2. 4.91 ERA) is off to a rather rough start. He’s yielded at least three runs in three of his four starts and has walked eight in 22 innings this season. On Thursday at Cleveland, the right-hander allowed four runs, six hits and walked three, while striking out six, over six innings of a 4-2 defeat.
Baz allowed three hits and a walk while striking out nine scoreless innings at Kansas City on June 26 of last season for Tampa Bay.
Orioles outfielder Taylor Ward is 4-for-13 with two doubles and two walks in the last three games.
Kansas City announced Monday that second baseman Jonathan India was placed on the injured list with a shoulder issue.
–Field Level Media
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