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BALTIMORE -- There wont be too many games in which James Shields throws seven innings of three-hit ball and is upstaged by a teammate. Derrick Thomas Grey Jersey . This was one of them. Omar Infante homered and tied a career high with six RBIs to carry the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on Sunday. Shields (3-2) allowed two runs, struck out six and walked two in winning his third straight start. The right-hander gave up only an infield hit in the first five innings and improved to 10-7 lifetime against Baltimore, including 7-2 at Camden Yards. Shields was more impressed with Infantes performance, which included a fine defensive play at second base against Baltimore leadoff hitter Jemile Weeks. "Omar, definitely the player of the game," Shields said. "It all started with that first play he made barehanded. He had a great day today. Definitely carried our team." Infante hit a run-scoring groundout in the first inning, a sacrifice fly in the third, a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run shot in the seventh. He entered with one home run and 11 RBIs in 21 games. "It was a great day for me," Infante said. "Im happy because that has not happened too many times for a player. It was a great day for the team. Ive been working hard in the cage. The last couple of days I hit a lot of fly balls. I dont like that; I want to drive the ball." The last time Infante had six RBIs was last Sept. 13 with the Tigers against Kansas City. The starter for the Royals that day was .... James Shields. "Im glad hes on my team now," Shields said. Nori Aoki scored three runs for the Royals, who took two of three from Baltimore to conclude a 3-4 road trip that began in Cleveland. Kansas City is 12-0 when scoring at least four runs and 0-12 when scoring three runs or fewer. "I take it we need to score four runs. Were trying to do it more," manager Ned Yost said. "Its just a testament to how good our pitching is, how good our bullpen is. How good our starting pitchers are, how consistent they are that we could have that kind of record." Nelson Cruz hit his seventh homer for the Orioles, who finished with five hits. Before the game, Baltimore put slugger Chris Davis on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. Miguel Gonzalez (1-2) gave up four runs, three earned, and six hits in six innings. "Deserved a better fate," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. The Orioles quickly got a hint of what kind of day it was going to be when Aoki, leading off the first, hit a fly to centre that popped out Adam Jones glove for a three-base error. Infante followed with a grounder to shortstop that put the Royals ahead for good. "Missed it," Jones acknowledged. It wasnt the Orioles only mistake. "We made a couple of good decisions with pitchouts (but) we werent able to execute that," Showalter said. "Those are two free outs. Then obviously, Adams one of the best centre fielders in the game. So Im not going to lament that at all. Hes been a rock for us out there. You spot them, give them those type of things that they dont earn, with Shields on the mound, thats not a good combination." Baltimore fell to 0-7 in games it makes an error. The Orioles are 12-5 without committing an error. After Jarrod Dyson singled and scored in the third, singles by Alcides Escobar and Aoki preceded Infantes double in the fifth. Baltimore closed to 4-2 in the sixth when Jemile Weeks singled and Cruz homered to centre, but Kansas Citys four-run seventh against reliever Evan Meek turned the game into a blowout. After Infante connected, Alex Gordon doubled in two runs for an 8-2 lead. "The flood gates opened," Yost said. "That broke the game open at that point." Mike Moustakas doubled in a run off Ryan Webb in the ninth, and the Orioles scored in the bottom half on a wild pitch. NOTES: Orioles LF David Lough made a fine diving catch in the eighth inning to rob Dyson of a hit. ... Cruz has 25 RBIs this month. The club record for April is 31, by Miguel Tejada in 2005. ... Kansas City went 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position. Baltimore was 0 for 2. ... Dyson was 5 for 5 lifetime against Gonzalez before flying out in the fifth. ... Baltimores Nick Markakis got his 1,400th career hit, a single in the ninth inning. Dee Ford Two Tone Jersey . According to Arthur Staple of Newsday, Snow offered his disappointment about the knee injury that sidelined his best player for the remainder of the season. "Are the IIHF or IOC going to reimburse our season ticket holders now? Its a joke. Justin Houston Gold Jersey . Louis Cardinals in todays finale of a three-game set at Busch Stadium. Milwaukees Yovani Gallardo came into yesterdays start with an 8.89 earned run average over his past 26 1/3 innings, but carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and ended up allowing just one hit over eight frames in a 4-0 victory.It appears Quick was pretty happy with his work, heres himm after watching the replay. Alex Smith Gold Jersey. ' ' ' |
