McCann’s walk-off single in ninth lifts O’s to victory
BALTIMORE — James McCann hit a walk-off two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
The start of the game was delayed five hourse because of rain.
The Orioles had only four hits off Royals starter Cole Ragans and two relievers heading to the bottom of the ninth, but closer Will Smith walked Ryan Mountcastle and allowed a single to Anthony Santander.
Jordan Westburg followed with a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third with one out.
Smith intentionally walked Austin Hays and struck out Colton Cowser for the second out, but McCann hit a sharp line drive to left for the game-winner.
Orioles starter Corbin Burnes wasn’t nearly as sharp as his Baltimore debut, allowing two runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
Late Tuesday
Royals 4, Orioles 1: Alec Marsh pitched seven innings of two-hit ball, Maikel Garcia drove in three runs and Kansas City breezed past Baltimore at wet and chilly Camden Yards.
Marsh (1-0) turned in the best performance of his budding career, dominating the defending AL East champions with an exceptional display of control. He struck out five, walked one and retired the side in order five times.
“He was outstanding,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Marsh. “Adverse conditions to pitch in against a really good lineup, and he did nothing but attack, right from the get-go.”
Now in his second season, Marsh previously hadn’t gone more than six innings and never allowed fewer than three hits in any outing longer than an inning. In this one, the righthander threw 72 pitches, only 18 of which were called balls.
“You couldn’t ask for anything more,” Quatraro said.
Marsh received offensive support from Garcia, who hit a two-run double in the second inning and added an RBI triple in the fourth.
A persistent, light rain soaked the players and the announced crowd of 9,404. Temperatures dipped into the 40s soon after the game started, and a crisp breeze provided the stouthearted fans additional discomfort.
The Orioles gave their supporters little reason to stand up and cheer. Baltimore’s only run came in the third inning on successive doubles by Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, but that only served to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Kansas City answered in the fourth with a walk and a triple by Garcia on a liner off the rightfield wall. That was more than enough backing for Marsh, who earned the fifth spot in the Royals’ rotation with a strong showing in spring training.
As a rookie in 2023, Marsh lost his first eight decisions before ending up 3-9 with a 5.69 ERA.
The solid finish, along with his productive spring, gave Marsh some momentum heading into the 2024 season.
When the Orioles got good wood on the ball, there always seemed to be someone there to catch it.