BALTIMORE – In an unexpected showcase of power, the Kansas City Royals shifted away from their customary small-ball tactics to deliver a historic performance on Sunday, setting a franchise benchmark by hitting seven home runs in an 11-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Entering the game with a league-low tally of 18 home runs across their initial 34 games, the Royals surprised both themselves and spectators with an explosive performance.
Maikel Garcia led the charge with two home runs, marking his first-ever multihomer game, while Jonathan India celebrated his debut home run with Kansas City. Joining the home run parade were Luke Maile, Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Michael Massey, each contributing to the aerial assault at Camden Yards. This approach marked a distinct departure from their usual strategy of advancing runners with bunts and singles, as they opted instead for a display of raw power.
“Pretty remarkable,” commented manager Matt Quatraro. “We’ve been focusing so much on how we’ve had offensive issues. A day like that is immensely satisfying.” Although the Orioles put up a fight with four home runs of their own, the Royals ultimately prevailed, overpowering their opponents in a rare slugfest.
“It was certainly the first game of its kind for us this year,” remarked Quatraro. “It was a back-and-forth slugfest, but our players stayed focused and didn’t miss their opportunities. It was a fun yet nail-biting game.” The last time the Royals hit as many as six home runs in a game was in 2020; however, neither the weather conditions nor the field dimensions posed any significant hurdles for the Kansas City lineup, which had historically struggled to produce runs.
“The wind was blowing out to left-center when the game started, and they’d moved the fences in from last year,” Quatraro noted. “It’s a hitter’s park, and we capitalized on that.” Indeed, the Royals took control in the eighth inning as Witt and Pasquantino managed to homer against Yennier Cano, who had not allowed a run the entire year. It was a notable achievement as it marked the first instance this season of consecutive home run plays by the team.
The Royals managed to bookend their lineup with homers, ranging from leadoff hitter Jonathan India to No. 9 hitter Luke Maile. For India, the home run felt particularly rewarding. “It felt great,” he expressed about his fifth-inning home run. “I got a good swing on the ball, and thankfully, they have a short fence. I thought it might just be a gapper initially.” On this prolific day, India was merely one of several Kansas City players to successfully hit out of the park.
“Everyone was locked in today,” he concluded.