Rain goes away and game begins (O's lose 14-6)

Today's game between the Orioles and Royals finally started after a delay of 3 hours and 2 minutes. It rained for a large part of it.

Chris Davis was hit by another pitch in the bottom of the first inning. Yordano Ventura nailed him on the left foot. Davis limped to first base and the moment passed without incident.

No bats were harmed in the making of this inning.

The Orioles grabbed a 1-0 lead when Manny Machado singled with one out, Davis was hit, Adam Jones reached on an infield single and Gerardo Parra flied to the right field warning track.

Fans reacted as though they were about to witness another grand slam. It's been known to happen here.

Parra batted fifth only once before today and it lasted for one plate appearance. Manager Buck Showalter also flip-flopped Jones and Davis in today's lineup.

Chris Tillman retired the Royals in order in the top of the first inning on 17 pitches, the last one a 94 mph fastball to strike out Lorenzo Cain.

Cain was 9-for-17 with two home runs, four RBIs and five runs scored in four games against the Orioles this season.

Tillman retired Alex Gordon on a fly ball to left field, but he needed eight pitches to do it. Ben Zobrist grounded to first baseman Davis.

Tillman recorded his outs on a 91 mph cutter, an 83 mph changeup and the 94 mph heater.

As I wrote this morning, Tillman has lost his last four starts and remains stuck on nine wins. He's allowed a combined 13 runs and 16 hits over 7 2/3 innings in his last two outings.

"I know it seems like it's just the standard answer, but it's fastball command," Showalter said. "If you'll look at where the catcher is sitting today and where he throws the fastball you'll get a pretty good idea of what type of success he's going to have. And if he gets the ball where he's supposed to get it with the fastball, the whole world opens up to him, just like all pitchers."

Update: The Royals tied the game in the second on Salvador Perez's two-out bloop single into left field that scored Eric Hosmer, who was safe at second on the Orioles' attempted 4-6-3 double play. Hosmer was ruled out, but umpires overturned the call.

Tillman has thrown 49 pitches in two innings.

Update II: Jones ran the count full in the third inning and hit a three-run homer to center field to break a 1-1 tie.

Jones has 26 home runs this season. Half of them have given the Orioles a lead.

Jones was 4-for-28 with one home run and two RBIs this month before today's game.

Update III: The game took an ugly turn for the Orioles, who trail 6-4 in the sixth inning.

Tillman is charged with four runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings, the last two scoring after Brian Matusz replaced him. Tillman walked two and struck out three. He threw 103 pitches, 63 for strikes.

Chaz Roe replaced Matusz and let two inherited runners score on Salvador Perez's two-run single into right field that broke a 4-4 tie.

Matusz faced two batters after Eric Hosmer's RBI single off Tillman. Kendrys Morales walked and Mike Moustakas delivered a two-run single into center field.

Update IV: The Royals followed their five-run sixth inning with a five-run seventh punctuated by Moustakas' second career grand slam that gave Kansas City an 11-4 lead. All five runs in the inning were charged to T.J. McFarland.

Moustakas has 15 RBIs in six games against the Orioles this season.

Update V: J.J. Hardy led off the eighth with a double, his first hit in 16 at-bats this month, and Nolan Reimold followed with a two-run homer to reduce the Royals' lead to 11-6.

Update VI: Moustakas hit a three-run homer off Steve Johnson in the ninth to give the Royals a 14-6 lead. His nine RBIs are a club record.

Orioles relievers have allowed 10 runs today and let two inherited runner score.

Update VII: The Orioles lose 14-6 before an announced crowd of 35,439 at Camden Yards.

The less said about this one, the better.