It took twelve innings for the Baltimore Orioles to defeat the Kansas City Royals (7-16) by a score of 7-5 on Monday. The way the game progressed through eight innings in no way was indicative of how the next four innings would unfold.
A double by Taylor Ward in the first inning was the only Orioles hit in eight innings and a Jac Caglianone solo homerun in the second inning was Kansas City’s only run through the same part of the game.
The Baltimore ninth opened with a Gunnar Henderson walk and for the second time in the game, resulted in Henderson being picked off first (he walked and was picked off to open the game). Ward walked and was forced out on a Dylan Beavers groundball. Pete Alonso then walked to place runners on first and second. Down to his final strike, Samuel Basallo singled to center to score Beavers and tie the game.
After a scoreless tenth inning Beavers knocked in the ghost runner, Blaze Alexander and Bobby Witt Jr did the same to the Royals’ ghost runner Isaac Collins to tie the game once again.
Basallo opened the twelfth inning with a RBI single. A single by Jeremiah Jackson followed by a walk by Weston Wilson loaded the bases for Leody Taveras who hit his first career grand slam homerun 419 ft. to centerfield.
Those five runs were certainly needed as Cameron Foster gave up a bases-loaded 3 RBI double in the Royals’ half of the twelfth.
Lost in all this late-game excitement was Kyle Bradish‘s start. Despite allowing 10 hits, he held the Royals to one run over 5.1 innings while walking 3, striking out 7 and tossing a wild pitch.
Four relievers later, Anthony Nunez (1-0) recorded the win after pitching the 10th and 11th innings.
2026 Record: 11-12
Next Game: Tues. 4/21 @ 7:40 pm @ Kansas City Royals
