O's get on winning hit parade in 5-run 3rd

The Orioles’ offensive surge during the early innings of Saturday night’s contest against the Royals was enough to snap a five-game losing streak as they evened the series with an 8-4 win at Kauffman Stadium.

“The way we strung some hits together,” said manager Brandon Hyde, when asked what was working for the offense. “I love the way we ran the bases. That was our best baserunning game by far. Going first third multiple times, putting pressure on the defense, running the bases hard, but really good at-bats off [Royals starter Brady] Singer.”

The O’s struck first, scoring two runs in the second inning. However, it was a pivotal five-run third frame in which the bats came alive.

A leadoff double for Cedric Mullins started the process for an early exit by Singer. Baltimore then smacked five consecutive singles for a 6-0 lead, with no outs. The five-run inning was capped by Pedro Severino’s RBI single as the O’s bid for a series win in Sunday’s matinee rubber match.

Orioles starter Jorge López continued to struggle when facing a lineup for the third time -- teams are hitting .485 against him as opposed to .264 the first time through. The righty gave up four runs (three in the fifth) on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings and issued just one walk to go with four strikeouts.

“I don't know what to say,” said López, trying to come up with an explanation for the fifth-inning meltdowns. “It’s happened since the beginning. I mean, I could say, ‘I should do this, I should do that,’ but at the end of the day, I have to [get] three outs. I have to concentrate better … I got to keep my rhythm going. It's just something, I have to find a way to get through that fifth. I think if I keep doing it the right way, it's gonna work out later.”

The bullpen -- Paul Fry, Dillon Tate, Tanner Scott and Tyler Wells -- combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings. The ‘pen has delivered scoreless outings in 23 games this season.

“That's been for three years. Honestly, it is, you know a theme of we're a little bit inconsistent, and some nights you don't know what you're going to get,” Hyde said. “Tyler Wells has been our most consistent from a strike-throwing standpoint and that's why I've moved him into big parts of the game late. We're not setting ourselves up for success when you [walk batters], and that's backfired on us. Tonight we got out of those innings and made some pitches.”

Baltimore has struggled against American League Central teams this season -- going 5-17, including a 9-2 loss in Friday’s series opener.

The keys to success, according to Hyde, are starting pitchers not allowing early runs, the bullpen picking up in big spots and the offense scoring early and often.

“Top to bottom it was nice to see us keep the line moving and taking competitive at-bat after competitive at-bat,” Hyde said. “Scoring those eight runs early, it was really nice.”

Though encouraged by the win, the skipper still needs one thing from his team, consistency.

“Like I said many times, all these guys -- Fry, Tanner and Tate -- it's high leverage reliever stuff,” Hyde said. “Now, what's going to take them to the next level is being consistent and understanding how to get ahead of hitters, and how to put hitters away, because their stuff is definitely good enough.”