Royals 5 - 6 Orioles
Final/12
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Guerrero's hit in 12th gets O's past Royals

May 26, 2011 - 11:34 PM

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Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Vladimir Guerrero's run-scoring single in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted the Baltimore Orioles over Kansas City, 6-5, at Camden Yards.

The Orioles were unable to score the winning run despite loading the bases with nobody out in the 11th, but came back to end it one inning later.

"I have seen [teams] say, 'Oh, we had our shot,'" said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "But our guys haven't done that all year and I don't think they ever will."

Robert Andino led off with a double against reliever Louis Coleman (0-2) and Adam Jones failed to get a bunt down before Nick Markakis was walked intentionally.

Guerrero then stepped in and bounced a seeing-eye single up the middle to score Andino with the winning run and extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Jeremy Accardo (3-1), picked up the victory for tossing two perfect innings of relief.

Nolan Reimold went 4-for-4 with a pair of homers and drove in four runs for Baltimore, which swept a three-game series from Kansas City for the first time since May 28-30, 2007. The Orioles also extended their winning streak to a season-high five games.

Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie worked seven innings, allowing nine hits and five runs -- four earned -- while striking out four. He did not issue a walk.

Melky Cabrera had a two-run single for the Royals, who have lost five in a row. Starting pitcher Jeff Francis surrendered five runs on nine hits, walked one and fanned four over six frames.

"When you play 162 games, you're going to have heartbreakers, but you just move on and get after it the next game," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "You can't let it get you down, you just have to keep battling."

Kansas City drew first blood by plating four in the second on a run-scoring fielder's choice by Mike Aviles, Chris Getz's RBI single and two-run base hit by Cabrera.

Reimold hit a solo shot to left in the home half and the Orioles put up four more in the third.

Back-to-back base hits by Andino and Jones started the inning. After the next two batters were retired, Mark Reynolds grounded an RBI single up the middle before Reimold belted a three-run homer into the left field seats to make it a 5-4 game.

Alex Gordon's run-scoring double off the right-field wall in the fourth tied things.

The Royals squandered chances in the seventh and ninth innings, then left the bases loaded in the 10th.

Baltimore loaded the bases in the 11th, but Luke Scott bounced into a force out and pinch-hitter Matt Wieters hit into a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Orioles recalled catcher Craig Tatum from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned infielder Brandon Snyder to the same club...Kansas City took two of three from the O's earlier in the season and had won five of the previous six versus Baltimore prior to this series.






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