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O's hope Reynolds continues power surge in contest with Royals

Aug 3, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - Orioles third baseman Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and matched a career-high five RBI in last night's win over Kansas City to back seven solid innings from starter Alfredo Simon.

Jeremy Guthrie hopes Reynolds can preserve some of the production when he toes the rubber Wednesday in the second portion of a three-game set against the homestanding Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Reynolds has homered three times in his last five games and finished with three hits and two runs scored on Tuesday, helping Baltimore end a three-game slide and win for the fourth time in 12 chances. The O's are 3-5 on a 10-game road trip.

Chris Davis ended 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while J.J. Hardy had two hits and drove in a run for the Orioles, who got seven innings of one-run baseball out of Simon. Simon also struck out three batters and walked one.

"My arm's getting a little [stronger], and I feel way better with all my pitches," said Simon. "Everybody looks at me, like I know I was in a situation in trouble, but I just try to show the best I can that I can be a starting pitcher in this rotation."

Guthrie is the lone pitcher remaining from this spring's projected rotation and avoided being dealt at the trade deadline. He had lost five of six decisions before shutting down the New York Yankees in a 4-2 win in the Bronx on Friday, when he allowed one run over seven innings with five K's. He was able to lift his 2011 mark to 5-14 in 24 games (22 starts) and lower his already-high ERA to 4.18.

The righty is 2-0 with a 5.22 ERA in seven career meetings, four of which have been starts, against Kansas City.

In other news for the O's, starter Jake Arrieta could miss the remainder of the season with an elbow problem and the club acquired left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes on waivers from the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Hardy and Nick Markakis are still one homer shy of 100 for their careers.

Kansas City had won three of four and eight of 12 games before losing last night's series opener. Bruce Chen saw his record fall to 5-5 on the season and was reached for three runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. Everett Telford allowed four runs in an inning of relief.

"I felt like my command wasn't there, but I felt like I was competing, trying to do everything I could to help this team win," Chen said. "Unfortunately we came up short. I'm really trying."

Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer had an RBI apiece for the Royals, who unveiled their logo for the 2012 All-Star Game. Butler and Melky Cabrera are both riding eight-game hitting streaks for last-place Kansas City. Cabrera has five multi-hit games in that stretch, while Butler has tallied four.

Taking the mound for the Royals tonight will be Luke Hochevar. Hochevar has won two straight starts and is 3-0 in his previous six outings -- all KC victories. The right-hander held Boston to a pair of runs and six hits in seven innings during last Thursday's 4-3 win at Fenway Park, improving to 7-8 on the season in 22 starts to go with a 5.15 ERA.

Hochevar lost at Baltimore back on May 25 and allowed eight runs, seven of which were earned, and eight hits in seven innings of a 9-2 loss. He is winless (0-4) in five career starts against the Orioles, compiling a less- desirable 7.98 ERA in that stretch.

Baltimore has won four in a row and five of seven contests against Kansas City this season. KC took two of three games as the host from May 3-5.