Orioles fall again: Kansas City takes series with 5-3 win

Yordano Ventura gave up two hits in six scoreless innings, and the Kansas City Royals held on for a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles in a series finale between the two teams on Thursday.

Ventura (9-7, 4.41 ERA) struck out 11 and walked four, outdueling O’s starter Chris Tillman (9-9, 4.58 ERA), who was charged with four runs on nine hits in six innings of work.

Down 5-1 heading into the ninth, Baltimore made it interesting with a two-out RBI double by Caleb Joseph and an RBI single by Manny Machado, but Gerardo Parra grounded out to second to end the game.

The Orioles (63-64) have now lost eight of their last 10 to fall eight games back in the American League East and two and a half games back in the AL wild-card race.