More on John Means' emotional win Friday, plus other notes

KANSAS CITY - When the Orioles crushed the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, the offense stood out, producing season highs in runs (14) and hits (21). But the performance on the mound was pretty special, too.

Very special, actually.

Lefty John Means returned to the team Friday after spending five days on the family medical emergency list. After Friday's game, it was learned that Means had been away from the team to return home as his father, Alan, had been diagnosed with cancer.

Home for Means is in the Kansas City area and Means grew up a Royals fan, attending games with his dad. On Friday night, Means would return to Kauffman Stadium and this time be on the mound, not in the stands. He had the emotion of that homecoming on top of the news about his dad.

And he had maybe 100 family and friends in the stands rooting him. Last night, Means' hometown held "Gardner (Kansas) Day at the K." Means was given a key to the city, as was the Royals' Bubba Starling. They attended Gardner-Edgerton High School together and faced each other this weekend.

Somehow, Means put aside the emotion of the night and pressure of pitching in front of so many rooting for him to throw seven innings of two-run ball. He got the 14-2 win to improve to 10-9 with a 3.55 ERA.

How was he able to perform so well?

"I've actually known for a few weeks about it," Means said. "It hit me hard early and I was really, really glad that the Orioles let me come home and spend some time with my family. I think it helped all of us out a lot. Just having basically everyone home - my brother was still playing. But pitching here and how it lined up. It has just been kind of crazy how this whole year has gone - the ups and downs - and it puts everything into perspective. Being here and pitching in front of my loved ones and friends and everybody that has had a part in this whole journey of mine is really what it's all about."

Means had an incredibly efficient night, throwing just 74 pitches. He has an ERA of 2.37 over his past three starts.

Drafted by the Orioles in round 11 in 2014, it was months later that Means was in the stands at Kauffman Stadium for a series to decide which team would go to the World Series.

"I think one of the last times I was here (as a fan) was when the Royals beat the Orioles in the 2014 ALCS. I got to go to that fourth game with my dad," Means said. "We were sitting down the right field line. It was really cool (this weekend) to experience a game here actually out on the field."

He did get that experience and had an entire clubhouse pulling him for him. Manager Brandon Hyde talked about Means' Friday outing.

"You can't put yourself in his shoes," said Hyde. "I just kept looking at him during the game and checked in with him a lot during the game. He obviously had a ton of emotion and a ton of people he cared about in the crowd. And his dad was here. It was really cool to see him pitch so well in front of his friends and family."

O's notes: The Orioles allowed three unearned runs in last night's 7-5 loss to Kansas City. Chance Sisco made two poor throws, leading to two runs that broke the 5-5 tie in the eighth. When the O's allowed three runs in the fourth, center fielder Stevie Wilkerson dropped a fly ball and one run was unearned.

Anthony Santander hit a solo homer in the fourth and three-run shot in the fifth. It was his first career multi-home run game and he matched a career high with four RBIs.

According STATS, he's the youngest Orioles player (24 years, 316 days) to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game since 23-year-old Eddie Murray on Aug. 29, 1979. Santander has homered in consecutive games for the fourth time this season (also July 23-24, July 19-20 and June 28-29), and his 12 homers in 46 games since the All-Star break match Trey Mancini for the team lead.

Santander's 16 homers are most by an Orioles outfielder 24 or younger since Adam Jones (19) in 2010. Santander has an RBI in five consecutive games (11 total). During this stretch, he is batting .524 (11-for-21).

Dylan Bundy allowed three earned runs over six innings Saturday to give the Orioles two quality starts in this series and 34 for the season. The Orioles are 21-13 with a quality start and 14-2 in the last 16 such games.

Bubba Starling and @Orioles pitcher John Means, former teammates at Gardner Edgerton High School, were handed the keys to the City of Gardner prior to tonight's game.

The KC community is proud to have both of you representing our area on baseball's biggest stage. 👏 pic.twitter.com/dLLS71rJ1t

-- Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 31, 2019