Kansas City’s Lucas Erceg was responsible for the game’s interruption in the seventh inning when he hit Blaze Alexander on the left hand with a pitch. The incident followed quickly after the Orioles stretched the lead after Samuel Basallo’s solo homer made it 8-2. Alexander shouted at Erceg and Orioles manager Craig Albernaz moved in to restrain him. Players from both dugouts and bullpens approached, but no punches were thrown, no one was shoved, and no one was ejected. Albernaz later said Alexander has a nondisplaced fracture of his left hand.
Offensively, Taveras provided the early spark with a two-run homer in the second inning, then added a run-scoring single during a five-run sixth that pushed Baltimore ahead 7-2. Lane Thomas went 3 for 4 with an RBI for the Royals, who were swept for the eighth time this season. Kansas City’s fifth straight loss dropped the club to 38-59, including a season-high 21 games under .500. Baltimore’s Shane Baz was removed after 4 2/3 innings and 104 pitches, finishing with nine strikeouts and one earned run.
After the All-Star break, the Royals resume Friday night at home against San Diego, while Baltimore returns in Houston on Friday.