It was a great Orioles debut for RF Aristides Aquino, but despite the Orioles tying to game with two-outs in the 9th, the Royals were able to score on Tommy Milone in the 11th to take a 4-3 win.
Orioles Lineup vs RHP Brady Singer (0-1, 10.38)
- Julio Iglasias – SS
- DJ Stewart – DH
- Austin Hays – CF
- Renato Nunez – 1B
- Aristides Aquino – RF
- Anthony Santander – LF
- Pedro Severino – C
- Rio Ruiz – 3B
- Hanser Alberto – 2B
Starting Pitcher – John Means (1-3, 7.26)
Acquired in the big trade for Chance Sisco, Aristides Aquino made a good first impression by homering in his first at bat, a 493 foot bomb to center field, to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd.
The Royals got to Orioles starter John Means in the top of the 4th when Salvador Perez led off the inning with a solo home run to left. Facing the heart of the order in the 5th, the royals got to Means again with a two-out two-run homer by Jorge Solar to make it 3-1. That’s the 13th home run Means has given up this season in his first 35.1 IP this season. In case you wondering, that’s not good.
In the bottom of the 6th, DJ Stewart cut the lead to 3-2 when he smacked an opposite field home run.
In the top of the 7th off reliever Glenn Sparkman, 1B Ryan McBroom lined a ball into the corner in right field. Unfamiliar with the corner, the ball bounced around past Aquino making McBroom dig for 3rd; however, McBroom did not realize Aquino has a hose in RF and throw a strike to 3B to cut down McBroom. What a throw.
After the relievers shutdown both offenses, the Orioles made it interesting in the 9th after the Royals brought in Ian Kennedy to hold a 3-2 lead. Kennedy struck the first two batters out before manager Brandon Hyde pinch hit Pedro Severino for Dwight Smith Jr. Smith Jr. worked a walk to bring up Anthony Santander, who was 0-for-2 and in a 1-for-14 slump. The Royals brought in Scott Barlow for Kennedy. Santander met Barlow with a line drive into deep right center. The Royals set up a good relay but Smith Jr. was chugging around third hard. The throw came in right on the mark but Smith Jr. was able to slide around the backside of the plate to score the game tying 3rd run. Santander moved to third on the throw and represented the winning run with Rio Ruiz coming up.
Barlow intentionally walked Ruiz to get to Andrew Velazquez who had collected a pinch hit single in his last at bat. Barlow got ahead 0-2 and threw a great low and in slider that Velazquez tried to hold up on, but went too far for strike three. It’s extra innings at the yard.
In the 10th, the Orioles brought in Mychal Givens who struck out Hunter Dozier before allowing a single to Mason Williams then a ground out that put a runner on 2nd with two outs. That brought up Salvatore Perez who promptly went with a slider and nubbed it just over Velazquez into right field. Williams scorched around third base and headed home as Aquino rushed in, fielded the ball and threw a strike to Bryan Holaday who tagged Williams out for the third out of the inning and to keep it 3-3. That’s the second assist of the game for Aquino. Quite the first impression he’s making.
With three lefties coming up to start off the top of the 11th, and Tanner Scott a little tired, Hyde went to Tommy Milone who promptly hit the first batter. A 4-6-3 double play wiped them out but the Royals pinched hit right-handed hitting Maikel Franco who lined a single. That brought up Whit Merrifield who absolutely smoked a Milone crap offering down the right field line for an RBI tripe, putting the Royals ahead 4-3.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Orioles managed an Aquino single, but otherwise went quietly as the Royals end up with another win over the hapless Orioles dropping them to 11-20 on the year.
Orioles Player of the game: Aristides Aquino (2-for-5, HR, 2 OF assists)
Minor League Highlights
Norfolk win 9-5 (9-12)
1B Taylor Jones (.352) went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four runs batted and 3B Rylan Bannon (.221) went 3-for-4 to lead the Tides offense. Starter Zac Lowther (5.02) allowed two runs in four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 5IP.
Bowie off (12-8)
Baysox are off
Keys lost 1-4 (8-13)
Grayson Rodriguez (4.55) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts in six IP. JC Encarnacion (.275) led the offense with a 3-for-4 with a triple.
Delmarva won 5-4 (9-13)
DH Clay Fisher (.303) went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and C Maverick Handley (.244) went 2-for-3 with a two-run triple to lead the offense. Conner Gillespie (7.20) allowed four runs in 4 IP but Easton Lucas (2.20) tossed three shutout innings of relief. After the game, SS Darrell Hernaiz (.154) was sent back to extended spring training to wait for Aberdeen season to start up.
Orioles News
Major League baseball announced Austin Hays as AL rookie of the month for April.
