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Surging Royals look to continue success

Jul 1, 2008 - 3:17 PM Kansas City (38-45) at Baltimore (41-40) 7:05 p.m. EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Kansas City Royals made a statement in interleague play. They will attempt to grab their second consecutive win against an American League opponent when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

The Royals finished up interleague play a sterling 13-5, tied for the second-best mark in baseball behind the Tigers 14-4 record.

In its first game back in the American League pool since June 12 Monday night, Kansas City took the dramatic route to victory, tying the game on Miguel Olivo's solo homer in the ninth and picking up the win when Jose Guillen singled in a run in the 11th.

The recent run has pulled the Royals out of last place in the AL Central, one game better than the disappointing Cleveland Indians (37-46).

The Orioles will send Radhames Liz (2-0, 5.70 ERA) to the mound Tuesday. The rookie righthander will be making his sixth start this season and is coming off a win at the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in which he allowed two runs and four hits in five innings.

The 25-year-old Liz has made just one of his five starts this season at Camden Yards, allowing four runs in 6 1/3 innings June 14 in a no decision against Pittsburgh.

The Royals will counter with their own rookie righthander, Luke Hochevar (5-5, 4.60). The 24-year-old is coming off his longest outing of the season - an eight-inning effort against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in which he allowed two runs and seven hits to earn the win.

Hochevar faced Baltimore earlier this season, allowing four runs in seven innings to suffer a loss on May 8.