Basallo’s late heroics rescue Orioles from another futile loss
Samuel Basallo had a game-tying ninth inning hit and a go-ahead 12th inning hit.
Apr 20, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (29) celebrates with team mates after scoring in the twelfth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Orioles offense has done it again. Don’t ask me for the definition of “it” in this context because the answer to that remains unclear early in the 2026 season.
What is certain for tonight is this: The Orioles could have lost another stupid, frustrating game full of futility and easily-avoidable mistakes. They were one strike away from that exact outcome. Long afterwards, even after taking a five-run extra-innings lead, they were one swing away from that outcome.
Still, when the dust settled, the O’s beat the Kansas City Royals by a 7-5 score in 12 innings. This was a game that, in a lot of ways, the Orioles deserved to lose. One reason that they deserved to lose is that Gunnar Henderson led off the game with a walk and got picked off.
Henderson led off the ninth inning with a walk and got picked off. In between these two bungled appearances on the bases, the entire remaining Orioles lineup collected exactly one hit: A double by Taylor Ward immediately after Henderson’s first pickoff. Another reason that the Orioles deserved to lose this one is that starting pitcher Kyle Bradish had another tough night.
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