Nick Markakis had a home run and two RBIs and Jake Arrieta (4-1) gave up only three hits and one run in seven innings, as the Baltimore Orioles used their bats, arms and brains to hold on for a 3-2 win, snapping the Royals four game winning streak.
A head’s up play by O’s centerfielder Adam Jones possibly saved the tying run from scoring in the bottom of the eighth. Down 3-1, Mike Aviles hit a ball that rolled and wedged itself under the center-field wall. Aviles rounded the bases in what looked like an inside the park homer, but Jones threw up his hands and appealed to umpire Tim Welke. In accordance with the ground rules of Kauffman Stadium, Welke called it a double. Aviles went back to second and Alcides Escobar, who had been on first with a single, returned to third. Escobar eventually scored from third, but Aviles who most likely would have had a triple if Jones had picked up the ball, was left stranded.
“I know the ground rules of all the stadiums we play in because situations like that, they happen few and far between, but they happen,” Jones said. “I know the ground rules here.”
Jeff Francoeur homered, his team leading eighth. That came in the second off Arrieta after Baltimore picked up runs in each of the first two innings off Royals starter Kyle Davies.
