With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Hunter Harvey allows a two-run walk off home run to Ryan McBoom as the Royals finish off the sweep of the Orioles with a 6-4 win.
Orioles sign LHP Jerry Vasto
The Orioles signed 28-year old left-hander Jerry Vasto to a minor league contract and assigned him to Norfolk. Vasto missed all of 2019 with a lingering lat issue, but last pitched in the majors in 2018 with the Royals.
Orioles Lineup vs RHP Brad Keller (2-1, 3.09)
- DJ Stewart – RF
- Hanser Alberto – 2B
- Dwight Smith Jr. – LF
- Anthony Santander – CF
- Chance Sisco – DH
- Pedro Severino – C
- Rio Ruiz – 3B
- Jose Iglesias – SS
- Chris Davis – 1B
Starting Pitcher – John Means (1-2, 6.55)
The Royals got on the board first in the bottom of the 2nd off Orioles tsrater John Means when Jorge Soler led off with a solo home run to center to make it 1-0. C Salvatore Perez followed that up with a massive 448 ft home run that ended up in water fountains to make it 2-0. He did not miss that and together the Royals hit the ball about 867 ft in two at bats.
The Royals got back on the board again in the 3rd when Orioles killer Whit Merrifield tripled with one out before scoring on a RBI single to make it 3-0.
After dominating the Orioles offense for three innings, the Orioles got to Royals starter Brad Keller when they loaded the bases with one out in the 4th. 3B Rio Ruiz, who had been in a slump of late, then came up and hammered a Keller offering deep over center fielder Brett Phillips head. C Pedro Severino, who had wake to load the bases, read the ball well and scored all the way to first to tie the game at 3-3 with Ruiz settling at 2nd for a bases clearing double. SS Jose Iglesias singled to center but it was hit too sharply to score Ruiz. With runners on 1st and 3rd and no outs, Chris Davis then hit into the 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
It didn’t stay tied long as Perez hit the first Mean’s offering he saw in the bottom of the 4th and snuck it inside the left field pole for his second homer run of the game and the Royals 3rd to make it 4-3. On the next play, Means got Alex Gordon to ground out to first but while covering first he came up lame with an apparent leg injury. Brandon Hyde decided to take him out of the game and brought in Cole Sulser.
In the top of the 7th, after getting one out, the Royals went to their bullpen and the Orioles got things started when Chris Davis was hit by a pitch and Hanser Alberto walked. With two out, Dwight smith then delivered a line-drive double down the left field line that tied the game at 4-4. Anthony Santander then came up and hit long fly to deep right center, but Phillips was able to corral it just short of the warning track.
In the bottom of the 9th, after using just five pitches to get through the 8th, Hyde brought Hunter Harvey out for the 9th, after getting two quick outs, he allowed a single to Alex Gordon to bring up 1B Ryan McBoom. McBoom then took a 1-1 hanging splitter and deposited over the right center fence to give the Royals a walk off 6-4 win.
A tough weekend for the Orioles as they kept swept in KC and fall for their 4th straight game and dropping their season record to 9-12.
After the game, Manager Brandon Hyde said that Means’ injury was not significant and he was taken out for precautionary reasons. He’s not expected to miss his next start.
Orioles Player of the Game: Dwight Smith Jr. (2-for-3, BB, 2B, RBI)
Minor League Highlights
Norfolk loss 0-2 (6-5)
Christian Alvarado (2.79) got a spot start and allowed two runs over five innings of work but the Tides only managed three hits on the day.
Bowie won 6-1 (6-4)
Tom Eshelmen (0.63) threw a rare minor league complete game, allowing just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six. 3B Angelo Mora hit a three-run homer and Preston Palmeiro went 2-for-4 with a triple to lead the offense.
Keys won 12-4 (4-7)
C Adley Rutschman had a huge night going 3-for-4 with a two-run double a and a grand slam to drive in six runs to lead the offense. Grayson Rodriguez (6.48) picked up his first High-A win after allowing four runs in six innings of work
Delmarva lost 5-9 (4-7)
1B Andrew Daschbach stayed hot going 2-for-5 with 3rd home runs of the season, but starter Kyle Brnovich (9.82) allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks in just two innings of work. 3B Gunnar Henderson was taken out of the game after hurting his thumb head first sliding into second on a double. Reports after the game indicate it is a slight fracture and he will be out at least 4 weeks. 3B Toby Welk was sent down from Frederick after the game to play 3B at Delmarva in his absence.
