Samuel Basallo's 8th-inning homer lifts the Orioles to a 5-3 win over the Royals

BALTIMORE (AP) — Samuel Basallo hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 in the opener of a three-game series between last-place teams Friday night.

Blaze Alexander also homered for Baltimore.

Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins hit solo shots for Kansas City, which has lost three in a row and 11 of 15.

Matt Strahm (3-2) entered with the game tied at 3-all and yielded a leadoff single to Pete Alonso. Basallo then hooked a 1-2 slider just inside the foul pole in right for his 15th homer of the season and chucked his bat with both hands toward the Orioles dugout in celebration.

Baltimore led 3-2 entering the eighth, and manager Craig Albernaz allowed starter Brandon Young to stay in with only 77 pitches. But Collins capped an eight-pitch at-bat with a shot to center to chase the right-hander.

Young allowed three runs in seven-plus innings and struck out five.

Rico Garcia (4-1) relieved Young and retired all three batters he faced. Andrew Kittredge worked around Michael Massey's one-out double in the ninth for his third save and second in as many days.

Baltimore took the lead in the second when Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson delivered consecutive RBI singles against Kansas City starter Luinder Avila.

Kansas City tied it with a two-run fourth. Caglianone led off with a shot to right, and Josh Rojas’ two-out double scored Massey.

Alexander hit his fourth homer of the year in the fourth off Avila, who allowed three runs in five innings and struck out three.

Kansas City LHP Noah Cameron (5-6, 4.77 ERA) faces Baltimore RHP Kyle Bradish (5-9, 3.75) on Saturday.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luinder Avila delivers against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luinder Avila delivers against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Brandon Young delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 10, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday, left, puts out Kansas City Royals' Josh Rojas, right, while turning a double play on a ground ball hit by Royals' Nick Loftin during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 10, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson fields a grounder before turning a double play on a ball hit by Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin, not pictured, during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Graham Platner on Friday submitted his paperwork to formally withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race, officially ending an upstart yet troubled campaign whose dissolution threatens Democrats’ pursuit of chamber control.

The Maine Democratic Party announced later Friday that it will hold a nominating convention on July 25 to choose Platner's replacement for the November ballot.

Platner’s paperwork was received by the Maine secretary of state's office Friday afternoon.

In a letter to the secretary of state's office, which Platner also posted on social media, he wrote that the Mainers who had nominated him “voted for a new kind of politics” that is “representative of people down here in the real world — not billionaires, oligarchs, or the political establishment.” It was the same outsider chord that had been a trademark of his tumultuous campaign, in which Platner drew backing from progressive leaders including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California.

“I seek to further the movement we have built together and the future we believe in,” he went on, without detailing what that meant.

Maine is considered a key state for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats were desperate for a candidate capable of defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

The formal withdrawal comes two days after Platner said he would quit the race, facing an allegation of sexual assault that he has denied. Maine Democrats are seeking a new nominee, and several hopefuls have already begun jockeying for position.

Maine Democratic Party Chairman Charlie Dingman said delegates representing all of Maine’s 16 counties will choose someone “who has the energy, ideas and popular support” to defeat Collins. The party said 601 delegates will participate.

“Our message to Mainers is this: While these circumstances are unprecedented and the challenge is enormous, your state party is ready and capable of rising to this challenge,” Dingman said.

State law includes a provision for Democrats to replace Platner before the general election but the replacement must by named by July 27.

Several Democrats have announced runs for the Senate nomination this week. They include three candidates who lost the June primary for the governor nomination — former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Nirav Shah, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.

Others who have announced runs include Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban; former 2nd Congressional District candidates Jordan Wood and Paige Loud; and former Maine Senate candidates David Costello and Andrea LaFlamme. State Rep. Valli Geiger has also expressed interest in the post but has not formally announced.

This story has been corrected to show that state Rep. Valli Geiger has expressed interest in running but has not formally announced.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina.

FILE - Graham Platner, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, join hands at an event in Orono, Maine, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Campaign flyers for former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Graham Platner are seen at his headquarters Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Ellsworth, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)