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MJ Melendez homered and drove in four runs and Alec Marsh tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings as the host Kansas City Royals earned a 9-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

Melendez snapped a 0-for-23 skid with a two-out RBI single to ignite a five-run sixth inning. He added a three-run homer in the seventh inning to propel the Royals to their ninth straight win at home.

Marsh (3-0) scattered three hits, struck out six and walked two to defeat the Orioles for the second time this season. He allowed one run on two hits over seven innings in Kansas City’s 4-1 win on April 2.

Michael Massey had a two-run single in his season debut and Hunter Renfroe added a two-run double in the Royals’ sixth-inning uprising. Massey had been sidelined since late in spring training due to a lower back strain.

Vinnie Pasquantino homered for Kansas City.

Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman launched his first career grand slam to highlight his three-hit performance. The Orioles, however, predominantly were held in check as their four-game winning streak ended.

Dean Kremer (0-2) retired the first 11 batters he faced before Pasquantino deposited a 1-1 splitter over the wall in right field with two outs in the fourth inning. The homer was the fourth for Pasquantino this season, all of them coming during his eight-game hitting streak.

Keegan Akin relieved Kremer with two outs in the sixth inning and runners on first and second base. Melendez’s base hit to right field off the second pitch from Akin drove home Bobby Witt Jr. and gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

Massey stepped up two batters later and singled to right field, doubling the advantage. Renfroe followed with a two-run double to center field to stake the Royals to a 6-0 lead.

Kremer was saddled with the loss after permitting three runs on two hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Kansas City answered Rutschman’s grand slam in the seventh inning, his second homer of the year, with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Melendez sent a first-pitch sinker from Dillon Tate over the wall in right-center field, his fourth homer of the season.

–Field Level Media