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Liz, Jones help Orioles end Royals' road winning streak

Jul 2, 2008 - 3:53 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The young Baltimore Orioles put an end to the Kansas City Royals' longest road winning streak in nearly 19 years.

Radhames Liz threw six solid innings and fellow rookie Adam Jones drove in a pair of runs to lead the Orioles to a 7-5 victory over the Royals on Tuesday.

Brian Roberts homered and Ramon Hernandez drove in a pair of runs for Baltimore, which used a four-run third to take control of the game and then held on for dear life.

Alex Gordon and Mark Teahen homered for Kansas City, which was denied its first seven-game road winning streak since August 15-September 1, 1989.

"This team has shown and proven how mentally tough it is," Baltimore manager David Trembley said. "What's going on here (with the young players) is being recognized. We got pitching, defense and timely hitting and, if you get all three, you win."

"We've just got to come back tomorrow and start another (streak)," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "We've got six more on the road before we go home before the All-Star break."

Liz (3-0) helped put an end to that streak by allowing three runs and seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk to win his second straight start.

"I felt great," the 25-year-old righthander said. "All of my pitches were working. When I can throw everything for strikes, I can get out of trouble."

The Orioles took a 6-1 lead thanks to a four-run third, which was highlighted by two-out, two-run singles from Hernandez and Jones. Nick Markakis began the frame with a single off Royals rookie starter Luke Hochevar (5-6).

Two batters later, Kevin Millar hit into a fielder's choice and Markakis strayed from second causing rookie Mike Aviles to throw to second in an attempt to catch Markakis sleeping. But Markakis made it back safely and Millar beat the throw to first.

Luke Scott then hit into a fielder's choice and Melvin Mora walked before Hernandez plated a pair with a single to left. Hernandez and Mora advanced on the throw home, and Jones slapped an opposite-field single to right for the five-run advantage.

After getting Brandon Fahey to fly out, a frustrated Hochevar slammed his glove down in disgust in the dugout. Hochevar allowed six runs and six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

Hillman saw Aviles' ill-advised throw to second as the turning point.

"A little breakdown defensively," Hillman said. "... Four more runs come in after that. No error showed up on the board but, if we had a little crisper defense in that situation, then that's a different ballgame, obviously."

Kansas City chipped away at the lead as Teahen hit a leadoff home run in the fifth. The Royals sliced the lead to 6-3 in the sixth, when Gordon doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Teahen.

Things got dicey in the ninth as Dennis Sarfate walked two of the first three hitters he faced and gave way to George Sherrill, who had blown his previous two save chances. In this one, he allowed a two-run single to Mark Grudzielanek before striking out Gordon to notch his 27th save of the season.

"It was good to get on top of guys and feel the support of the home fans," said Sherrill, who was cheered loudly by the home fans, many of whom were wearing No. 52 t-shirts, which were coincidentally the evening's giveaway. "Sometimes, it takes a kick in the pants to remember stuff."

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first as Gordon hit a mammoth 425-foot home run to right field that landed on Eutaw Street. Aubrey Huff answered with an RBI single in the bottom half of the frame. Fahey put Baltimore up, 2-1, with an RBI single to left that scored Jones from first.