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04/19/24 10:28:00
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04/19 22:26 CDT Pasquantino, Melendez homer as Royals win 9-4 and stop Orioles'
4-game winning streak
Pasquantino, Melendez homer as Royals win 9-4 and stop Orioles' 4-game winning
streak
By MARC BOWMAN
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) --- Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez homered to help
the Kansas City Royals beat Baltimore 9-4 on Friday night and stop the Orioles'
four-game winning streak.
Adley Rutschman hit his first career grand slam for the Orioles, a
seventh-inning homer off Will Smith.
Dean Kremer (0-2) retired his first 11 batters before Pasquantino drove a 1-1
splitter into the right-field bullpen for his fourth homer.
Pasquantino has four homers and 11 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.
"Vinnie did a great job getting us going with that homer," Michael Massey said.
"It felt like one of those nights where we had to scratch and claw, and it
broke open late for us."
Returning from the injured list in his season debut, Massey had two hits and
two RBIs.
MJ Melendez sparked a five-run sixth with an RBI single that ended an 0-for-23
slide. Massey and Hunter Renfroe each had two-run hits for a 6-0 lead.
"We were able to find some good at-bats late when we needed to and have a big
inning," Melendez said.
Maikel Garcia stopped an 0-for-26 slide with a leadoff single in the seventh
and Melendez hit a three-run homer off Dillon Tate.
"A sinker, middle of the plate," said Melendez. "Didn't miss it."
Kansas City won its ninth straight home game, their longest home winning streak
since May 27-June 15, 2016.
Marsh (3-0) escaped jams in the first and fourth innings, working around a pair
of Rutschman singles. Marsh allowed three hits and two walks, striking out six
in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
"We made a couple of mistakes there in the first with the scoring opportunity,
and then with the bases loaded off a guy we've had a tough time with," Orioles
manager Brandon Hyde said. "Just didn't push any runs across."
Kremer allowed three runs, two hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Three
Baltimore relievers surrendered six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.
"Dean threw the ball great," Hyde said. "A couple of walks in the sixth, but
left with two outs in a 1-0 game. We've got to do a batter job of shutting the
door for him. We just didn't pitch great out of the pen."
Baltimore stopped a five-game streak of hitting at least three home runs,
falling one shy of the major league record set by the 1987 Orioles.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Massey was 2 for 4 after recovering from lower back tightness that had
sidelined him since spring training. Kansas City optioned infielder Nick Loftin
to Triple-A Omaha.
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Corbin Burnes (2-0, 2.28 ERA) opposes Royals LHP Cole Ragans (0-1,
1.93) on Saturday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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