Kevin Millar's three-run homer helps Baltimore Orioles knock off Kansas City 6-5
Associated Press | May 10, 08 11:42 PM CDT in
Sports
Kevin Millar hit a three-run homer and finished with three hits to help the Baltimore Orioles beat Kansas City 6-5 on a rainy Saturday night for their 12th straight victory over the Royals.
Millar, who entered hitting just .186 in his previous 15 games, homered just inside the left-field foul pole on a 2-1 pitch from Brett Tomko (1-4) with two out in the first. Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora, both aboard after singles, scored on Millar's fifth home run.
The Orioles have hit three three-run homers in the first three games of the series after coming to Kansas City without a three-run homer this year.
Roberts suffered a left foot contusion and did not return after a rain delay of 1 hour, 52 minutes in the first inning.
Garrett Olson (2-0) went 5 1-3 innings for Baltimore, allowing three runs and eight hits. Olson, who has a 2.95 ERA, has allowed 16 hits and six earned runs in 18 1-3 innings in three starts since being called up April 29.
Mora singled in Freddie Bynum in the fifth, and the Orioles pushed across two more in the sixth to make it 6-1. Adam Jones hit an RBI triple and scored on Guillermo Quiroz's squeeze bunt.
Joey Gathright had two bunt singles and stole two bases for Kansas City, which finished with 13 hits.
Gathright and Jose Guillen collected RBIs in the sixth, cutting the lead to 6-3. David DeJesus led off the seventh with a triple against Jamie Walker and scored on Esteban German's single.
Walker failed to retire any of the three batters he faced and left with runners on the corners and no out. Jim Johnson replaced him and struck out Billy Butler and Mark Grudzielanek before retiring Guillen on a grounder to prevent further damage.
George Sherrill allowed a run in the ninth before finishing for his 13th save in 15 opportunities.
Tomko gave up six runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out a season-high eight and did not walk a hitter for the first time this year.
The Royals have lost five of six to begin their 10-game homestand, their longest of the season. The Royals' 6-12 home record is the worst in the majors.
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