KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Carlos Santana and MJ Melendez homered as the Kansas City Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 on Thursday.
Santana hit a two-round shot to the far reaches of right field to reach three homers for the season. He thus broke the tie in the fifth inning, as Kansas City won for the first time since May 17-18.
The two teams, bottom of their division, have had 30 players 25 and younger on their rosters so far in 2022, including the Royals’ Bobby Witt and the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman, considered the top two prospects in the Majors. Leagues at the start of the season.
Mike Matheney, a former Gold Glove-winning catcher and current manager of the Royals, praised the defensive work being done by Rutschman, also a catcher.
“He got off to a rough start, but you look at his style and it was like he just got to another level behind the plate,” the driver said. “He’s a guy who understands the importance of that position.
Jordan Lyles (3-5) took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings, during which he walked three.
Joel Payamps (2-1) came out of a bases-loaded jam and got the win with four outs of relief. Scott Barlow managed the sixth rescue of him.
For the Orioles, the Venezuelans Anthony Santander 5-1, Rougned Odor 3-0 with a run scored, Robinson Chirinos 3-0. Dominican Jorge Mateo 3-1 with a run scored.
For the Royals, Venezuelan Salvador Pérez 4-1 with a run scored and two RBIs. Dominican Santana 4-1 with a run scored two produced. Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rivera 3-1.
