Orioles Finally Win and the Royals Are Still Falling: Kansas City's Nine-Game Skid Gets Uglier Tuesday Night

Baltimore got out of jail Monday night and now has a chance to pile on Kansas City's misery. The Orioles scraped together just six hits over 12 innings but still found a way to win 7-5 in the opener of this three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. Samuel Basallo knocked in runs with singles in the ninth and 12th innings to keep the game alive, but the real backbreaker came when Leody Taveras launched a grand slam in the 12th to seal it. This is only the second win in Baltimore's last seven games, but manager Craig Albernaz is preaching patience: "It's just sticking with their approach and our plan."

The Royals, meanwhile, are in free fall. Kansas City's nine-game losing streak is their worst since a 10-game skid in 2023, and it's not even close to being a pitching problem. Over their last eight games, the Royals have scored just 27 runs and struck out 73 times. On Monday alone, Kansas City rapped out 14 hits but stranded 16 runners. They left the bases loaded three times in three different innings without scoring a single run. That's not baseball. That's torture. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino is hitting just .149 with 22 strikeouts this season and told the team's official website: "The only way we can start to win games is with each other. When you're going through it, you can question everything. But you got to find a way through it. That's why I keep talking about keeping your head up, because it can happen quick."

Tuesday's pitching matchup favors Kansas City on paper. Kris Bubic is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA against Baltimore in five appearances, including four starts. But Bubic has been wildly inconsistent in 2026, alternating good and bad starts through his first four outings. His last time out he got hammered for five runs on six hits and three walks in just 4 2/3 innings against Detroit. "Just trying to do too much," he admitted. "So now, it's about putting the pieces together." On the other side, Orioles starter Shane Baz has allowed at least three runs in three of his four starts and has issued eight walks in 22 innings this season. Taylor Ward is heating up for Baltimore with four hits on 13 at bats over his last three games, including two doubles. Kansas City also got bad news Monday: second baseman Jonathan India landed on the injured list with a shoulder issue.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.