Power hitting Samuel Basallo smacked a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning and Orioles starter Brandon Young pitched into the eighth, allowed just three earned runs, walked only one and struck out five to set up Baltimore’s 5-3 win over Kansas City on Friday.
Young left with no outs in the eighth after allowing a solo shot to Isaac Collins, the Royals’ No. 9 hitter, that tied the game at three. Rico Garcia came on for Young, who totaled 85 pitches, to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the frame.
That’s when Basallo became the hero for the Orioles (44-51) in front of nearly 27,000 fans at Camden Yards in the opening game of Baltimore’s last three-game series before the All-Star break.
Basallo turned on a high, two-strike breaking ball from Royals left-handed reliever Matt Strahm and sent it just inside the right field foul pole onto the flag court for a two-run homer, also scoring Pete Alonso, who singled to start the inning.
“Being able to keep that ball fair was really impressive,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “Usually those balls have a little hook to them. But how hard he hit it and also it has a true ball flight, it just shows how efficient and clean his swing is.”
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Basallo chucked his bat overhead with two hands toward the O’s dugout, smiling wide in celebration. “That’s just me having fun right there,” Basallo said in an on-field interview after the game. “Just saw the ball and hit it.” He added later in the clubhouse, "I enjoy every homer that I hit."
It was his 15th home run of the year, his first full season in the big leagues, and came on a night in which he was the designated hitter rather than catching. “What he’s been doing is awesome,” Albernaz said. “The sky’s the limit for him.”
Andrew Kittredge picked up the save, his second in two days. Garcia was credited with the win, and Blaze Alexander was 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the fourth.
Jac Caglianone, Josh Rojas, and Collins each had two hits and one RBI for the Royals, who fell to 38-57. Strahm took the loss.
Bad taste, good result
Young said after the game he had a "bad taste" after allowing a long ball to the last batter he faced, but he was pleased he kept the Orioles in the game overall.
Albernaz agreed. “He got stronger as the game went on," the Orioles manager said. "When he went out there for the eighth, he was throwing 96. It was cool to see him step up and also be efficient with his pitches. It was a really great outing.”