Sometimes, one small play in a game ends up ruining it. When Adley Rutschman didn't challenge a pitch in the eighth inning that was called a ball, I thought that was the small ruining play. The batter went on to homer. The game was tied, and I **** umed the Orioles would soon fall behind. But that didn't happen! Instead, the stage was set for Samuel Basallo to come along and serve up some heroics. He did just that, with a home run to put the Orioles ahead and give them a 5-3 lead to start their series with the Kansas City Royals.
The Orioles started scoring early but were held to just three runs for most of the game. They got the scoring started in the second inning with a singles party. Dylan Beavers, Blaze Alexander, Jackson Holliday, and Gunnar Henderson all singled. Beavers and Alexander came in to score on hits from Holliday and Henderson. It was a nice start against Royals' starter Luinder Avila, who allowed his share of baserunners in his five innings pitched.
Taylor Ward led off the third inning with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal second base with Pete Alonso at the plate. Ward got a good job and could have beaten the throw, but appeared to try the swim move to avoid the tag. Instead, he avoided the bag just long enough to get tagged out. Not great, Taylor! Alonso walked not long after, which made it seem even dumber. They did not score.
The Orioles had just one baserunner in the fourth inning, but it was a Blaze Alexander bomb to put the team up 3-0. It was already Alexander's second hit of the game and he played good defense as well.
Unfortunately, the Orioles did not score again off Avila. They had two more baserunners in the fifth but couldn't capitalize, and Avila left the game after five innings. The Royals' bullpen held strong until they didn't, but more on that later.