KC’s Alex Gordon has Career Day, Orioles Fall 8-6

May 18, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher

(40) reacts after giving up a three run home run to Kansas City Royals left fielder

(left) during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Orioles couldn’t contain Alex Gordon on Sunday afternoon, letting him go 4-4 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs in the Royals 8-6 win.  The Orioles also fell out of first place with the loss.

Game 42 – Baltimore Orioles (22-20) 6 Kansas City Royals (22-21) 8 F

W: James Shields (6-3, 2.67)

L: Ubaldo Jimenez (2-5, 4.50)

S: Greg Holland (12, 2.16)

MVP: Alex Gordon (did you expect anyone else??) 4-4, 3 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR

The GOOD: There actually was some good in this game. However, none of it relates to the pitching.

First, the Orioles offense showed some signs of life, especially from a few players. Manny Machado had a 3-4 day, including an RBI and a R. It looks like his bat may finally be getting back to the Manny before last year’s injury.

Adam Jones had two hits, including a 3-R HR to add a little intrigue to the ninth inning. He is now up to a 14-game hitting streak, and despite Saturday night’s failings in the clutch, there is nothing wrong with AJ.

J.J. Hardy went 3-4, another good sign from a player who has missed some time to start the year. Then there is Jonathan Schoop, who went 1-3 with 2 runs and a walk. The walk may be the biggest part of that, as Schoop continues to mature as a major league hitter.

One other good thing, the Orioles did not make an error in the game.

The BAD: The bad also is going to be quite a list, and it starts with the pitching. Ubaldo Jimenez left up a run in the first, then was spotted a 3-1 lead. That evaporated on Gordon’s first three-run home run. Ubaldo tried to go in to Gordon, but instead left it right down the middle and Gordon hit a rope to right.

Ubaldo did have 7 strikeouts in the game, but he also allowed 8 hits and had a WHIP of almost 2.

Then the Orioles were still within striking distance before Troy Patton left up the second three-run home run to Alex Gordon, which put the game all but over. Patton’s ERA is up to 6 on the season, and as someone already kind of in Buck’s dog house, he needs to pitch better.

Two players on the Orioles did not have a hit. Those players were Nelson Cruz and Chris Davis. Neither struck out, but they were a combined 0-9. Not exactly what you want from your clean up hitters.

I said I had a feeling the bats may breakout in this game. It was more like two people broke out the bats, Adam Jones and Alex Gordon.

What’s NEXT: The Orioles have an off day to lick their wounds after leading a series 2-0 and then finishing it out even. The Birds then travel to the beautiful PNC Park in Pittsburgh to face the Pirates. Two teams with struggling offenses will go head to head. The Pirates won game two of Sunday’s doubleheader to avoid being swept by the Yankees.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday as Miguel Gonzalez (1-3, 4.76) re-enters the rotation to face Francisco Liriano (0-3, 4.25). The Orioles play a two-game series against Pittsburgh before they head to Cleveland.