KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals offense has been cold at times during the first week of the season. But the bats warmed up in a big way Friday night.
Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino drove in three runs apiece, and the Royals enjoyed a five-run eighth inning to beat the Orioles 8-2 on a rainy Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Garcia’s two-run single in the fourth gave the Royals a 3-2 lead and his RBI double in the eighth started the five-run burst as the Royals sent nine men to the plate. Pasquantino added a three-run bloop single for the final tally.
Salvador Perez added two hits and an RBI, as the Royals finished with 11 hits — three more than they had the last two games combined.
Royals starter Seth Lugo (1-0) went six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits with a pair of strikeouts and a walk.
Baltimore starter Dan Kremer (1-1) didn’t make it out of the fifth, as he gave up eight hits and three runs (two earned).
UP NEXT
Orioles RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (0-1, 4.50 ERA) will face Royals RHP Michael Wacha (0-1, 2.25 ERA) at 3:10 p.m. Saturday.
