Not again: Royals fall to lowly Orioles

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - The Royals’ losing ways just won’t end. They can’t even stop their slide against the worst team in baseball.

The Baltimore Orioles edged Kansas City 6-5 in 11 innings on Thursday night to snap a five-game losing streak. The Royals have now lost five straight and 14 of 17 to fall a season-worst 18 games below .500.

They stand at 42-60 and are tied for last place in the American League Central with the Cleveland Indians.  Kansas City is 15.5 games out of first place.  The Orioles have the fewest wins in the majors with a 32-70 record.  They are 33.5 games behind the first place New York Yankees in the American League East.

Ty Winnington’s sacrifice fly in the 11th inning off Blake Wood turned out to be the game winner for the Orioles. Corey Patterson blasted a home run with two outs in the eighth to tie the game at 5-5. It came off Baltimore’s Robinson Tejeda.

The Orioles pounded the ball against Kansas City in the third, too. Nick Markakis led off the inning with his ninth home run.

The Royals had a huge five-run fourth, sending 10 men to the plate in the inning. That included Wilson Betemit walking with the bases loaded. Yuniesky Betancourt and Alex Gordon hit run-producing singles in the fourth.

Kyle Davies continued a pattern of rough starting pitcher for Kansas City. He exited the game after 5 2/3 innings. Davies allowed four runs, three earned, six hits and four walks.