Carlos Santana hit a 423-foot home run to break a 4-4 tie as the Kansas City Royals defeated the visiting Baltimore Orioles 7-5 on Thursday night in the first game of a four-game series. The Royals won back-to-back games for the first time since May 17-18.

Bobby Witt Jr. also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.

Joel Payamps (2-1) was the winning pitcher in relief. Scott Barlow earned a four-out save, his sixth.

Jordan Lyles (3-5) took the loss. He allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings while walking three and striking out one. He gave up two home runs.

The Orioles scored first in the top of the third. Jorge Mateo singled and stole second. He went to third on an error before Trey Mancini bounced a one-hopper to shortstop and Mateo beat the throw home.

The Royals came right back with a big bottom half of the inning.

Whit Merrifield led off with a single. With one out, Witt doubled down the line, sending Merrifield to third. Salvador Perez then drove both runners home with a base hit. MJ Melendez then launched a 418-foot home run to right field, putting the Royals up 4-1.

It marked the first time this season that Kansas City’s fourth- and fifth-spot hitters combined for at least four RBIs.

Baltimore tied the game in the fifth. With one out, Cedric Mullins doubled and went to third on a single by Mancini. Austin Hays drove in Mullins with a single, ending Royals’ starter Kris Bubic’s night. Ryan Mountcastle then greeted reliever Collin Snider with a two-run double.

The Royals didn’t let the game stay tied for long. Melendez walked leading off the fifth. Santana, who had his first four-hit game of the year Wednesday, hit his third home run of the season beyond the bullpen in right field.

Witt then drove in Merrifield with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The Orioles got one run in the eighth on a Mullins double. Mancini then walked to load the bases, but Barlow got Hayes to ground out, ending the threat.

–Field Level Media