Royals Hammer Orioles 8-2, Win 3rd Straight

BALTIMORE — The Kansas City Royals won their third straight game on Thursday night, crushing the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

After posting a record of 7-19 in the month of July, the Royals (48-63, 27-31 away) are now 6-3 in the month of August.

Billy Butler had a huge night, and almost hit for the cycle. Butler crushed a three-run home run in the first, a ground-rule double in the third, and a triple in the fifth.

All Butler needed was a single, but he struck out in the seventh and ninth innings. Had Butler hit a single, he would’ve been the first Royals player to hit for the cycle since George Brett did it in 1990.

Alex Gordon drove the game’s second pitch over the right field wall to put the Royals on the board first. After Butler’s HR, the Royals had a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

RBI doubles from Mike Moustakas and Jeff Francoeur made it 6-0 in the third.

Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen (10-7, 3.79 ERA) gave up seven runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Royals lefty Will Smith (3-4, 5.48 ERA) gave up two runs on six hits in 7 innings, fanning five and walking three.

Orioles fans at least got to see the Major League debut of third baseman Manny Machado. The 20-year-old slugging phenom hit a triple in the bottom of the fifth.

The Royals outhit the Orioles (60-52, 28-27 home) 13-6.

Luke Hochevar (7-9, 5.04 ERA) takes the hill against Orioles right-handed pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (3-2, 3.80 ERA) for game two in Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday night.