Record-setting Royals wrap up road trip with HR barrage at Baltimore: takeaways
It was only a matter of time before the levee broke for the Kansas City Royals’ offense.
The Royals saw tangible results in Baltimore against the Orioles. They relied on their power stroke to finish with a 5-1 record on their road trip.
The Royals’ bats came alive in a historic way on Sunday at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where KC won 11-6 and took the series. The teams combined for 17 runs and tied a Major League Baseball record for most solo home runs to start a game.
The Royals set a club record for home runs in a game, belting seven.
“We finally got a chance to pick someone up,” Royals infielder Jonathan India said. “And we did our job. That’s going to be a big part of our offense going forward.”
The Royals (19-16) will now return to Kauffman Stadium to begin a homestand against the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox.
“Pretty remarkable and good for them,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of his team. “I mean, we have made so much of how we have struggled offensively and we keep talking about how they will break out of it.
“The guys continue to work, believe, trust each other and trust the hitting guys. And a day like that is really satisfying and they should be rewarded for it.”
Here are some takeaways from the series in Baltimore — including Sunday’s incredible power display:
Sunday spotlight
Pitching ruled the first two games of this series, but offense took center stage in Sunday’s finale.
Third baseman Maikel Garcia hit two home runs. He continues to thrive in the lineup behind KC’s big trio of Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez.
Home runs were the theme of Sunday’s game. Eleven were hit in all as the baseball flew out of the stadium.
Here’s the home run breakdown:
Orioles | Jackson Holliday (2), Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins
Royals | Maikel Garcia (2), Jonathan India, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, Luke Maile, Michael Massey
Witt showed off his defensive wizardry, too. In the sixth inning, he started a 6-4-3 double play by robbing Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad of a base hit.
Witt dove to his right and snared the baseball. Then he quickly threw it to second baseman Michael Massey, who touched the bag and rifled the ball to first base.
“Naturally, I feel like I go better to my left,” Witt said. “Just trying to be able to get there. I know Massey is going to be there. Just tried to field it and make a play. Then get the double play as an extra.”
The next inning, Witt drilled his fourth homer — and first hit of the series — off Orioles right-hander Yennier Cano. Pasquantino followed with his sixth homer and second in as many games.
“It’s awesome anytime you hit a homer,” Witt said. “And seven homers is great. Just seeing how (Garcia) got things going and the rest of the offense followed behind.”
Maile and Massey hit the final homers of the afternoon. They were the final two members of the Royals’ lineup to register hits on Sunday, and they did so in thundering fashion.
The Royals succeeded in picking up right-handed starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen. He allowed five runs — four homers — in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and took the no-decision.
“It’s one of those where it is what it is,” Lorenzen said. “Challenge guys and they were putting barrels on the ball. Surprisingly to me, to be honest, with the stuff I was presenting today. So, I’ll take a look and see what’s going on and if I need to look into it. If I present that stuff consistently, I’m going to be in a good spot.”
Maikel Garcia goes nuclear
Garcia has carved out a key role in the Royals’ offense. In April, he finished with 29 hits and a .342 on-base percentage.
And he has continued to mash in May.
“The hottest hitter I’ve ever seen right now,” India said. “God bless him and keep going. He works hard and he is a helluva player and a selfless player.”
Garcia completed the six-game road trip with 12 hits in 24 at-bats. His two home runs Sunday against the Orioles — the balls traveled a combined 814 feet — marked his first career multi-homer game.
“I think I’m seeing the ball good and swinging at good pitches,” he said. “And I’m making decisions to go to the plate and hit the ball hard.”
It was also the first multi-homer game by a Royals player since Perez’s on Aug. 24, 2024 against the Cleveland Guardians.
Garcia worked hard to improve his batting stance this past offseason. He incorporated a toe-tap to stay more balanced at the plate. His swing decisions have improved, too.
“I missed a lot of fastballs because of my leg-kick,” Garcia said. “I was so inconsistent with the leg-kick, so I changed to the toe-tap to be ready for the fastball. And I’m seeing the ball good now.”
He has become a threat in the middle of the order.
Jonathan India circles the bases
India had been close to homering on multiple occasions this year.
In his first game with the Royals after being acquired in an offseason trade, he nearly hit two. Both shots would’ve been gone in his former home — Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Instead, they were flyouts at spacious Kauffman Stadium.
India had no such issues against the Orioles Sunday. He belted a solo home run off right-hander Bryan Baker, depositing a 90 mph slider over the left-field wall to give the Royals a 4-3 lead.
“It was a tough pitch and I just stayed through it and hit a good line drive,” India said. “Thank God they have a short fence out there. You know, I thought it was just a ball in the gap.”
The Royals entered the three-game series with just 14 home runs as a team — ranking last in the majors. On Sunday, India joined Pasquantino, Garcia (with two), Witt, Cavan Biggio, Kyle Isbel and Luke Maile in the home run column.
It was first homer as a Royal for not just India, but also Biggio and Maile.
“The bottom line is we wanted to win that game,” India said. “We just kept passing the bat along and that was it.”
Injury updates
The Royals are getting closer to full strength. Perez returned to action Sunday after missing two games with left-hip soreness.
Perez was the Royals’ designated hitter. He finished 2-for-5 as Maile got the start at catcher.
Meanwhile, the Royals announced that left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans will start Monday night’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium.
Ragans missed his last start due to left-groin strain. He has continued to receive treatment and threw a bullpen session Friday. The Royals were satisfied with the result.
“We wouldn’t have him out there if we weren’t confident,” Quatraro said. “We would not risk it. He says he feels completely normal. So we are looking forward to that.”
The Royals also provided an encouraging update on right-handed pitchers Hunter Harvey and Kyle Wright. Harvey is nursing a right teres major strain and is progressing toward throwing another bullpen next week.
“It went really well,” Quatraro said of Harvey’s first such session. “He cut loose. It was his second bullpen, so he had more confidence stepping on it a little bit. He will be scheduled for a live BP, I believe, tomorrow.”
Wright made his first rehab start in Double-A. He allowed two runs in four innings while striking out four. It was his first official game action since undergoing right-shoulder surgery in 2023.
What’s next: The Royals return home to play the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on Monday night. Ragans (1-1, 4.40 ERA) starts for KC against White Sox right-hander Shane Smith (1-1, 2.23 ERA).
This story was originally published May 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Record-setting Royals wrap up road trip with HR barrage at Baltimore: takeaways."
