Royals at Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are winless in their last six series, a drought they have a chance to end when they host the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night in the rubber match of a three-game set. The Orioles evened the series with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday to halt an eight-game losing streak and earn just their second victory in the last 15 contests.
Hanser Alberto extended his hitting streak to nine games in dramatic fashion, clubbing a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning for Baltimore. Rio Ruiz delivered a tying run-scoring single for his eighth RBI in eight games for Orioles, who had allowed 129 runs during the 1-13 slide. The Royals, who were denied a season-high fourth straight win away from home, managed only a sacrifice fly by Meibrys Viloria on Tuesday and were held to one run or less for the fourth time in seven games. Kansas City seeks its first series win since a two-game sweep in Atlanta on July 23-24 behind left-hander Mike Montgomery, who looks to win his third straight start when he opposes righty Aaron Brooks.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, MASN2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Mike Montgomery (3-5, 4.63 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Aaron Brooks (2-7, 6.49)
Montgomery won his second straight start in impressive fashion, limiting the New York Mets to an unearned run and five hits over six innings to extend his streak of not allowing an earned run to 13 innings. The 30-year-old allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings at Detroit in his previous turn to end a three-month drought without a victory. Montgomery, who has a 4.91 ERA in three appearances against the Orioles, has held Jonathan Villar to two hits in 12 at-bats.
Brooks was claimed off waivers from Oakland in early July, but his rotation spot could be in jeopardy after falling to 0-4 and seeing his ERA balloon to 9.22 in seven appearances with Baltimore. He lost his third consecutive start by giving up five runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings at Boston on Friday, but he kept the ball in the park after yielding seven homers in his previous three turns. Opposing batters are hitting a robust .345 against Brooks with the Orioles.
WALK-OFFS
1. Royals 2B Whit Merrifield has hit safely in three straight but has scored only once and has zero extra-base hits in his last seven games.
2. Orioles RHP Hunter Harvey has struck out four and has not allowed a hit in his first two major league appearances.
3. Royals LHP Danny Duffy said he felt fine after throwing a four-inning simulated game.