Orioles beat Royals in extras 7-5 behind clutch Basallo, Taveras grand slam

The Orioles were desperate, perhaps as much as they’ve been all season. Amid a trying road trip that had already seen them narrowly avoid a no-hitter and drop three of four against their first-year manager’s former team, the Orioles entered the ninth inning Monday in a collective 0-for-22 skid at the plate. Their star shortstop Gunnar Henderson then led off that inning by drawing a walk and getting thrown out as he took his lead at first base, the second time on the night the Kansas City Royals picked him off.

Frustration was evident in that third-base dugout. Henderson was beside himself. Then they found a way.

Samuel Basallo, down to the Orioles’ final strike, tied the game with an RBI single in the ninth for just their second hit of the game and put them ahead for good with their fourth on another run-scoring base knock in the 12th. Leody Taveras then cemented a 7-5 victory with a grand slam that sent a disgruntled Kauffman Stadium crowd to the parking lots. Royals starter Seth Lugo dominated the Orioles with seven shutout innings, allowing only a Taylor Ward double in the first inning in the hit column with four walks and seven strikeouts.

His outing was the defining performance of the game until closer Lucas Erceg blew the save in the ninth, and the Orioles (11-12) sent it to extra innings. Extras might not have been needed if not for Henderson’s baserunning gaffes. Ward’s double went over the head of Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel and Henderson, with his speed, might have been able to score from first.