Pasquantino, Melendez homer as Royals win 9-4 and stop Orioles' 4-game winning streak

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Vinnie Pasquantino and MJ Melendez homered to help the Kansas City Royals beat Baltimore 9-4 on Friday night and stop the Orioles’ four-game winning streak.

Adley Rutschman hit his first career grand slam for the Orioles, a seventh-inning homer off Will Smith.

Dean Kremer (0-2) retired his first 11 batters before Pasquantino drove a 1-1 splitter into the right-field bullpen for his fourth homer.

Pasquantino has four homers and 11 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

“Vinnie did a great job getting us going with that homer,” Michael Massey said. “It felt like one of those nights where we had to scratch and claw, and it broke open late for us.”

Returning from the injured list in his season debut, Massey had two hits and two RBIs.

MJ Melendez sparked a five-run sixth with an RBI single that ended an 0-for-23 slide. Massey and Hunter Renfroe each had two-run hits for a 6-0 lead.

“We were able to find some good at-bats late when we needed to and have a big inning,” Melendez said.

Maikel Garcia stopped an 0-for-26 slide with a leadoff single in the seventh and Melendez hit a three-run homer off Dillon Tate.

“A sinker, middle of the plate,” said Melendez. “Didn’t miss it.”

Kansas City won its ninth straight home game, their longest home winning streak since May 27-June 15, 2016.

Marsh (3-0) escaped jams in the first and fourth innings, working around a pair of Rutschman singles. Marsh allowed three hits and two walks, striking out six in 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

“We made a couple of mistakes there in the first with the scoring opportunity, and then with the bases loaded off a guy we’ve had a tough time with,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Just didn’t push any runs across.”

Kremer allowed three runs, two hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. Three Baltimore relievers surrendered six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.

“Dean threw the ball great,” Hyde said. “A couple of walks in the sixth, but left with two outs in a 1-0 game. We’ve got to do a batter job of shutting the door for him. We just didn’t pitch great out of the pen.”

Baltimore stopped a five-game streak of hitting at least three home runs, falling one shy of the major league record set by the 1987 Orioles.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Massey was 2 for 4 after recovering from lower back tightness that had sidelined him since spring training. Kansas City optioned infielder Nick Loftin to Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

Orioles RHP Corbin Burnes (2-0, 2.28 ERA) opposes Royals LHP Cole Ragans (0-1, 1.93) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday catches a fly ball for the out on Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez walks to thee dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro walks back to the dugout after making a pitching change during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde sends starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the dugout as he makes a pitching change during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Keegan Akin throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe hits a two-run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey, left, celebrates with first base coach Damon Hollins (39) after hitting a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel catches a fly ball for the out on Baltimore Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel catches a fly ball for the out on Baltimore Orioles' Ryan O'Hearn during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Nelson Velazquez, left, and Michael Massey celebrate after scoring on a double hit by Hunter Renfroe during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, April 19, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

HOUSTON (AP) — Jon Singleton homered and had three RBIs and Jose Altuve added three hits to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night.

The victory gives the Astros, who are last in the AL West at 11-20, consecutive series wins for the first time this season.

“It’s about winning series,” manager Joe Espada said. “That’s the message that we are carrying right now through our club. We have a lot of baseball left and that’s who I want our identity to be right now — just, win series. And if we do that, when we look back this is just going to be ... in the back, rear window.”

Houston trailed 2-1 with one out in the sixth inning when Jeremy Peña tripled on a ball that deflected off the glove of center fielder Gabriel Arias. With two outs, Singleton knocked a ball from Logan Allen (3-2) into the front row in right field to put the Astros up 3-2.

Singleton has started the last three games at first base because slumping veteran José Abreu has been optioned to Houston’s spring training facility to help the 2020 AL MVP get back on track.

“I feel pretty confident and the more opportunities I get, I feel better going forward,” Singleton said.

Singleton has homered twice this week. The lefty hit his only two homers of 2023 in the same game on Aug. 11. He also shined in the bottom of the sixth when Peña grabbed a grounder hit by Arias and he scooped up the throw to first by extending into the splits.

Jake Meyers tripled to start the seventh and Houston stretched the lead to 4-2 when he scored on Altuve's single.

The Astros added a run when Tyler Beede plunked Peña with the bases loaded. Yainer Diaz hit a two-run single with one out in the inning and Singleton made it 8-2 when he drove one in with a sacrifice fly.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti allowed four hits and two runs in a career-long 5 2/3 innings in his fourth major league start. Tayler Scott (1-1) went 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his first career win.

Andrés Giménez hit an RBI double and Will Brennan added three hits for the AL Central-leading Guardians, who dropped their second straight series after losing two of three to Atlanta.

“I thought tonight we were a little flat, expectedly,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s been a long trip, a lot of close games. But it’s not an excuse. We need to play better than we did tonight and we all know that.”

Allen yielded seven hits and three runs — two earned — in 5 2/3 innings.

Giménez gave the Guardians an early lead with his RBI double in the third. Steven Kwan made a great slide to avoid the tag at home on a sacrifice fly by José Ramírez to make it 2-0.

Singleton scored on a passed ball by Bo Naylor with two outs in the third.

Houston's Yordan Alvarez went 0 for 5 with three strikeouts Thursday to extend his slump to 0 for 17 since homering twice last Saturday against the Rockies in Mexico City.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Cristian Javier (neck soreness) will make a minor league rehabilitation start this weekend. Manager Joe Espada said they haven’t yet decided where he will start. … RHP José Urquidy, who hasn’t pitched this season because of an elbow injury, will throw a second live batting practice session Sunday before beginning a rehabilitation assignment.

UP NEXT

Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (2-0, 3.45 ERA) will start the opener of a three-games series against the Angels on Friday night against José Soriano (0-4, 4.76).

Astros: RHP Ronel Blanco (3-0, 1.65) opposes Seattle RHP George Kirby (3-2, 4.18) in the first of three games against the Mariners on Friday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan, left, beat a tag-attempt by Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, right, to score on the sacrifice fly by Jose Ramirez during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros Kyle Tucker (30) and Jon Singleton (28) celebrate after a score by Singleton on a passed ball by Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Cleveland Guardians' baseman Andres Gimenez, left, celebrates after his one-run RBI double next to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, right, during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros first baseman Jon Singleton, right, watches his two-run home run in front of umpire Mark Carlson, left, and Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)

Houston Astros' Jeremy Pena, left, and Jon Singleton (28) celebrate after they scored on a two-run home run by Singleton against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)