‘A fight at the bat rack:’ Inside the Royals’ historic homer outburst vs. Orioles
Kansas City Royals infielder Jonathan India sprinted to first base.
He wasn’t sure his fourth-inning line drive had any carry.
“I didn’t see it go out,” India said after Sunday’s game, an 11-6 KC victory at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. “I mean, the fence is so short. I was almost at second base when I saw the signal.”
That signal was a circular hand motion, designating a home run to the official scorer in the press box.
The Royals had a lot of those Sunday. They set a new club record with seven home runs against the Orioles. It’s the first time two teams have combined for 10 solo home runs in a major-league game.
“It was great,” India said. “Everyone was on today. We wanted a series win that bad.”
The Royals entered the weekend series in Baltimore having hit a league-low 15 home runs as a team. They hadn’t hit multiple homers since a March 31 game against the Milwaukee Brewers and trailed the Toronto Blue Jays (23 homers) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (25) in long balls.
In three games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Royals added 10 homers to their total. Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia hit two apiece during the series, while India joined Cavan Biggio and Luke Maile in hitting his first homer in a Royals uniform.
The Royals have moved out of the home run cellar. But what’s the story with this sudden power barrage?
Here’s an inside look at all seven home runs the Royals hit during Sunday’s game:
1st HR: Maikel Garcia (2nd inning)
The Royals jumped to an early lead when Garcia crushed an 87.6 mph cutter over the left-field wall.
Garcia battled Orioles starter Kyle Gibson in his first plate appearance. He drove the baseball 395 feet as it registered 101.2 mph off the bat.
“He missed the pitch in and I just took advantage of that,” Garcia said. “I was looking away and just be ready for the fastball. I put the ball in play and hit a homer. So glad for that.”
Garcia’s home run was an encouraging sign that the baseball could be flying out to left field.
2nd HR: Jonathan India (5th inning)
India finally got a chance to circle the bases, hitting a go-ahead solo homer to center while the Royals and Orioles were trading the lead back and forth.
It was his first home run with the Royals, ending a 38-game homerless streak. India had been close on multiple occasions this season. Each time, the baseball fell short of the warning track or went for an extra-base hit — but not a homer.
India savored the opportunity this time. He hadn’t homered since a Sept. 20, 2024 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“It was the first game we had like that all year,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, the back-and-forth slugfest game. They would score and we would come back and vice versa. So guys just had their focus up, I think, and they didn’t miss their pitches.”
3rd HR: Maikel Garcia (6th inning)
Garcia was soon back at it. This time, he homered off Orioles reliever Bryan Baker to tie the game again.
Baker tried to throw an 89.3 mph slider past Garcia. It didn’t work as Garcia deposited the baseball 419 feet over the wall.
It was Garcia’s first career multi-homer game. He became the first Royal with two homers in a game since Salvador Perez did it on Aug. 26, 2024 against the Cleveland Guardians.
“It’s been amazing,” Witt said of Garcia. “He’s been the spark that we have and the spark that we have needed. The way he takes at-bats and the way he handles himself. … It’s the little things. He plays the game the right way and he plays the game hard. He’s a baseball player.”
4th HR: Bobby Witt Jr. (7th inning)
Witt snapped an 0-for-11 stretch with his solo home run. It came against Orioles reliever Yennier Cano in the seventh inning.
The Royals superstar hit a 95.3 mph sinker over the left-center field wall. It was his fourth home run this season and his first base since his 22-game hitting streak ended Friday.
The baseball traveled 407 feet over the fence, giving the Royals a 6-5 lead.
“It feels like everyone is in a fight at the bat rack,” Witt said of the Royals’ offense outburst. “Everyone wants to get up there. Everyone wants to go up there and get an at-bat.
“So those are the things that you need and those are the things that kind of sparks the lineup. It gets things going and gives guys confidence.”
5th HR: Vinnie Pasquantino (7th inning)
Pasquantino is starting to heat up at the plate. On Sunday, he belted his third home run in five games against the Orioles.
Cano challenged Pasquantino with a 92.8 mph changeup in the bottom of the strike zone. Pasquantino didn’t miss it, drive the pitch out to right-center field.
It was the first time the Royals had hit consecutive homers since Aug. 1, 2024 against the Detroit Tigers.
Pasquantino leads KC in home runs (6) and RBIs (22) this season.
6th HR: Luke Maile (8th inning)
Maile got in on the action late.
He hit a solo home run off veteran reliever Charlie Morton, drilling a 95.8 mph fastball to stretch the Royals’ lead to three runs at (8-5).
The Royals acquired Maile this past offseason. He was recalled from Triple-A Omaha while Perez nursed some sortness in his left hip.
It was the 22nd home run of Maile’s career.
7th HR: Michael Massey (9th inning)
Massey hit the lone multi-run homer of the game, jumping on a 92.5 mph sinker left hanging over the plate.
Massey’s first home run of the year helped move his batting average over .200 (.204).
“Obviously, it’s been a bit of a struggle,” he said. “So to get one and have that lifted off your shoulders feels good.”
The Royals’ seven Sunday home runs traveled a total of 2,817 feet. Maile and Garica hit the longest home runs of the afternoon.
“Pretty remarkable and good for them,” 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.”
This story was originally published May 4, 2025 at 6:58 PM with the headline "‘A fight at the bat rack:’ Inside the Royals’ historic homer outburst vs. Orioles."
