Royals grab first series win of the season with rubber match victory over Orioles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Kansas Royals are in the series win column for the first time in the 2025 campaign, as KC grabbed a 4-1 victory in rubber match action against the Baltimore Orioles, on Sunday.

Skipper Matt Quatraro rode the arm of pitcher Kris Bubic for 6.2 innings, as he took a shutout into the seventh frame of Sunday's game. His streak of 12-straight shutout innings was finally broken up by Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle when he tripled leadoff the seventh inning and later scored on a wild pitch from Bubic. All-in-all, the left-hander only allowed that one earned run on five hits, while striking out eight batters.

Following Bubic's exit from the game, pitchers Hunter Harvey, Lucas Erceg and Carlos Estevez combined for a shutout in the final 2.1 innings. Estevez earned his second save of the season in the ninth, closing out the win with one strikeout and not hits allowed.

At the plate, the Royals out-hit the Orioles 13-5, as shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. came away with three hits in the win. He fell just a home run shy of the cycle, while catcher Salvador Perez, first baseman Mark Canha and third baseman Maikel Garcia each had two hits and one run scored on the day.

Up next - the Royals will start up a four-game set against the Minnesota Twins. First pitch in game one is set for Monday, April 7 at 6:40 p.m.