Gentry Hits Game-Winner As Orioles Beat Royals 2-1
BALTIMORE (AP) — Craig Gentry singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles cooled off the Kansas City Royals with a 2-1 victory Monday night.
Manny Machado had two hits and scored a run for the Orioles, who have won three straight.
Caleb Joseph got Baltimore going in the ninth with a one-out single off Joakim Soria (4-3). Ruben Tejada singled with two outs before Gentry hit a grounder up the middle that sent Joseph home from second base without a throw.
It was the second loss in 12 games for the Royals, who managed only five hits off three Baltimore pitchers.
Zach Britton (1-0) — the subject of many rumors before the non-waiver trade deadline ended on Monday afternoon — worked the ninth for the Orioles.
Baltimore started the day with a 50-54 record, but executive vice president Dan Duquette believes the team can be a contender. He beat the deadline by obtaining infielder Tim Beckham from Tampa Bay, three days after snagging right-hander Jeremy Hellickson from Philadelphia.
"We still have some hope that we can make the playoffs," Duquette said, hours before the Orioles extended their modest winning streak.
The first seven innings featured a pitching duel between Kansas City's Danny Duffy and Ubaldo Jimenez, both of whom allowed one run and struck out six.
Kansas City used first-inning doubles by Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer to jump to a 1-0 lead.
Jimenez settled down after that, and Baltimore pulled even in the fifth when Machado doubled and scored on a two-out single by Jonathan Schoop.
Though quiet on the final day of the trade deadline, the Royals welcomed back Melky Cabrera, who made his 2017 debut with Kansas City after being acquired from the White Sox on Sunday.
Playing right field and batting third, Cabrera went 0 for 4.
HOLE IN ONE
Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was charged with an error when he failed to handle a throw in the ninth inning from Machado at third. Turns out, the ball went right through the faulty webbing of Davis' glove. He immediately got a new glove.
HAPPY HOMECOMING
Cabrera said he's "really happy" to return to the pennant-contending Royals, whom he played for in 2011. "What I love to do is play postseason baseball," the 13-year veteran said through an interpreter. Manager Ned Yost said Cabrera, a switch-hitter, "brings a great personality to a locker room filed with great personalities. He's going to mesh perfectly with our group."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: Yost is optimistic third-baseman Cheslor Cuthbert (wrist) can return to his rehab assignment sometime this week after fouling a ball off his foot.
Orioles: DH Mark Trumbo was placed on the 10-day disabled list with an oblique injury. He played in Baltimore's first 103 games before sitting on Sunday. ... SS J.J. Hardy (wrist) was transferred to the 60-day DL.
UP NEXT
Royals: Ian Kennedy (4-6, 4.43 ERA) seeks his fifth straight victory in the second game of the series Tuesday night.
Orioles: Dylan Bundy (9-8, 4.53 ERA) can match his win total of last season with a victory.
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