|
|
|
|
 |
|
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
| Sport Sections |
|
|
| |
Saturday, Aug. 12 8:05pm ET
Belle's two-run shot proves game-winner | |||||
|
| ||||||
|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove called it a learning experience. Kansas City manager Tony Muser said it was a heartbreaker. Albert Belle hit a two-out, two-run homer to cap a four-run ninth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles overcame Jermaine Dye's six RBIs to beat the Royals 12-11 Saturday night. "The biggest significance of this game is it instills in the players that they have the ability to come back," Hargrove said. "You teach winning, just like you teach a guy how to throw a curveball or hit a fastball. It's a learned trait. To be able to come back after getting your brains beat out for two innings, it helps." Kansas City trailed 8-3 in the fifth before taking an 11-8 lead in the eighth on a two-run single by Dye off Buddy Groom (5-3) and Mark Quinn's RBI single. Delino DeShields hit a two-run single off Jerry Spradlin in the ninth to start the final comeback. "It's frustrating because it seems like you can't get an out," Spradlin said. "It seems I'm getting hit with little bloopers here and there." Belle followed with a homer off Ricky Bottalico (7-4), who blew a save for the seventh time in 20 chances. "That just breaks your heart," Muser said. "I don't know how long you can keep asking your position players to come back. You couldn't ask any more of our offense. It's just crushing. "These are the guys getting paid the money. They've got to get the job done. He spun a nice little curveball. You couldn't ask for a better pitch to hit out of the ballpark." Brian Kohlmeier pitched the ninth for his third save in three chances. Todd Dunwoody singled leading off and Carlos Febles sacrificed before Johnny Damon flied out and pinch-hitter Gregg Zaun grounded out. Dye, who matched his RBIs high, was 3-for-5 with a pair of homers, raising his total to a career-high 28, one more than he hit last year. It was his third multihomer game of the season, the sixth of his career. Dye, who didn't speak with reporters after the game, started the comeback with a two-run homer in the fifth off John Parrish, then hit another two-run homer in the seventh off Mike Trombley. Mark Quinn tied it later in the inning with an RBI single. Royals starter Blake Stein was pounded for eight runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings, walking four batters and throwing a pair of wild pitches. Baltimore's John Parrish gave up five runs, six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. There were 10 walks in the game and nine of those runners scored. Baltimore scored twice in the first on Melvin Mora's RBI double and a run-scoring error by Dye in right, but Kansas City took a 3-2 lead in the second on RBI singles Febles and Rey Sanchez around Damon's sacrifice fly. The Orioles took an 8-3 lead with a six-run third on bases-loaded walks to Jeff Conine and Chris Richard, a run-scoring wild pitch and a three-run homer by Brook Fordyce. Game notesDamon's sacrifice fly with his 10th, giving the Royals a league-leading 52. ... Jerry Hairston stole his first base of the season in the third. ... Thirty-one of Stein's 77 pitches were balls. It was is shortest outing of the season. His ERA went from 5.89 to 7.14. ... Fordyce has hit in 15 of his last 19 games, and in eight of 10 for since Baltimore acquired him from the Chicago White Sox on July 29. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Baltimore Clubhouse Kansas City Clubhouse RECAPS Oakland 9 Detroit 5
Baltimore 12
| |||||