The Kansas City Royals drop their seventh game in a row, getting shut out 3-0 by the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Kansas City starter Gil Meche (3-4) and Baltimore starter Erik Bedard (4-3) took a scoreless tie into the 8 th inning. The O’s scored a run in that inning to chase Meche, who pitched 7 1/3, giving up one earned run on four hits, while striking out five. He took the loss despite his fine pitching performance.
Baltimore picked up a couple of insurance runs in the top of the 9 th on a two-run homer by Nick Markakis, his eighth home run of the season. Chris Ray came in to pitch the 9 th , in relief of Bedard, earning his 12 th save.
The Royals (19-35) have an off-day on Thursday. They head to Florida for a weekend series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, beginning Friday night. Brian Bannister (0-3) goes to the mound for the Royals against Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir (3-2).