Orioles allow three unearned runs, lose by two in K.C. (updated)

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles' Anthony Santander homered from both sides of the plate tonight for his first career two-homer game. But the Baltimore defense helped contribute to the Royals' comeback tonight. The Birds allowed three unearned runs and lost 7-5 at Kansas City.

The Orioles (45-90) lost for the second time in six games and fourth time in 10. Kansas City (48-89) had lost eight of 10 and 12 of 16 before winning Saturday night.

Santander's second homer of the night was a three-run shot for a 5-4 lead in the fifth, but the Orioles could not hold that edge. K.C. scored once in the seventh and twice in the eighth.

Santander produced his first career two-homer game. His solo shot in the fourth, batting left-handed, tied it 1-1. An inning later his three-run shot, batting right-handed, put the Orioles ahead. Santander is the first O's switch-hitter ever to homer from both sides in consecutive innings.

Right-hander Hunter Harvey, making his fifth major league appearance, allowed a solo homer to third baseman Hunter Dozier in the seventh to tie it 5-5. It was the first run Harvey allowed in the majors.

The last of the eighth was ugly for the Orioles. Against Paul Fry, Meibrys Viloria led off with a bunt single. Batting next, Brett Phillips dropped a bunt and O's catcher Chance Sisco threw wildly to second trying to get a force and everyone was safe. Then Nicky Lopez bunted and Sisco got this ball too. But his throw to third for a force was low and Rio Ruiz could not hang on as it went for an E2 to load the bases. A sac fly by Whit Merrifield made it 6-5 and RBI groundout by Dozier made it 7-5.

Earlier the Royals scored three in the fourth to break a 1-1 tie and that inning included a dropped fly ball by center fielder Stevie Wilkerson. It was a night where the Orioles allowed three unearned runs and lost by two.

Starter Dylan Bundy recorded a quality start, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) over six on 104 pitches. Fry took the loss, Scott Barlow got the win and Ian Kennedy a save.

The O's scored four in the fourth to lead 5-4 on Sisco's solo homer and Santander's three-run shot. But they were held to five hits on the night and Kansas City won to even this three-game series that will end Sunday.

Postgame quotes:

Manager Brandon Hyde on giving extra outs: "We gave them a couple runs there in the eighth, we gave them a couple runs there earlier in the game. When you give a team four runs, it's tough to win. Just wasn't our best night defensively."

Hyde on Bundy bouncing back after a rough fourth inning: "Did a great job. Did a great job getting through six. Like I said, that fourth drove his pitch count up. Thought he settled in nicely after that, threw two really good innings and we were all set up with the bullpen intact and just didn't get it done tonight."

Hyde on Harvey giving up first big league homer: "It's not the last time he's gonna give up a homer, you know? He just missed location on the fastball to Hunter Dozier. Pitched great against Soler before that and just missed location with Dozier, and then came back and got a couple more outs after that."

Hyde on the team's struggles tonight: "We didn't really swing the bat very well tonight. Besides Anthony, there was not a whole lot of offense and we didn't play very well defensively."

Hyde on Santander's big night: ""He's really showing you his power. That ball he hit out to right-center that's really impressive. Sidewind left-hander that he's able to drive and backspin a ball out to right-center, you don't see that all the time. That was a huge hit for us, unfortunately we didn't get much more after that."

Bundy on his performance: "Kept the team in the ballgame. Kind of got us in trouble there in the fourth inning. Some hard-hit balls, just mistakes out over the plate. I think I was trying to make a perfect pitch when I just needed to throw the exact same one. Just two mistakes there in that fourth inning and leaving too much stuff over the plate."

Bundy on the Orioles' tough defensive game: "Yeah it's tough. But you know, those are things you learn from. Come back tomorrow and not make the same mistake."

Bundy on if he had any advice for Harvey: "Just come back tomorrow and pound the strike zone ... throw your best pitches out there. That's all you can do. Just try to make every one pitch at a time."

Sisco on miscues in eighth inning: "Very frustrating. It sucks. Obviously, gotta make better plays.

"I felt like we had them on both of them. Should've had them on both of them. Just gotta make a better play."

Santander, via translator Ramón Alarcón, on two-homer night: "Very happy about it. Very excited. ... an opportunity to hit one from both sides of the plate so it's very unique."