BALTIMORE – Jeff Francoeur and Billy Butler hit home runs, and Alcides Escobar had two hits to lead the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 4-2 on Sunday.
Francoeur had a terrific series, hitting 7 for 12 against the Orioles, including two homers. Butler had home runs in successive games for the Royals, who won two consecutive games for the first time since a four-game winning streak from May 12-15.
Baltimore's Adam Jones, whose six-year, $85.5 million contract extension was officially announced before the game, extended his career-long hitting streak to 18 — longest in the majors this season, with a fifth-inning double.
Tim Collins (2-0) was the winner with 1 1/3 perfect innings in relief of Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar.
Collins, Kelvin Herrera, Jose Mijares, Aaron Crow and Jonathan Broxton combined to limit the Orioles to one hit in the final 4 1/3 innings. Broxton worked the ninth for his 10th save in 12 chances, but had a scary moment with two outs in the ninth. J.J. Hardy popped to short right field. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella and Francoeur, coming in from right, converged on the ball. Giavotella dropped the ball for an error and Hardy wound up on second. Markakis struck out to end the game.
Baltimore has have lost five of seven.
Brian Matusz (4-5) had a three-game winning streak broken. He allowed four runs — three earned — and seven hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Butler hit a long, arcing home run to left field in the first off Matusz. But the Orioles tied it in the bottom of the first off Hochevar on a single by Hardy and an RBI double by Markakis.
In the second, Francoeur hit a sinking liner to center field that Jones mishandled. It was ruled a single and an error. With one out, Escobar lined a ball off second baseman Robert Andino's glove for a single. Mitch Maier bunted to Matusz, and Francoeur scored on the safety squeeze for a 2-1 lead.
Baltimore tied the score in the fourth when Andino, who reached on a fielder's choice with one out, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Humberto Quintero's throwing error, scored on Xavier Avery's single. Avery had been just 2 for 22 before the hit.
The Royals broke the 2-2 tie in the sixth when Francoeur led off with a home run to left field that was barely fair. It was his fifth home run of the season — all on the road. With one out, Escobar singled, and he scored on Quintero's RBI double.
Hochevar started and threw 100 pitches in 4 2-3 innings. He allowed two runs — one unearned — and seven hits. He entered with an 0-3 record and 9.47 ERA at Camden Yards.
NOTES: Jones' streak is the longest by an Orioles player since Markakis had a 19-game streak last June. ... The Orioles dropped consecutive series for the first time this season. ... Kansas City CF Jarrod Dyson sat out a day after a frightening collision with LF Alex Gordon. Dyson suffered a bruised hamstring, but said he was fine. ... Hochevar hit two batters. He has five in 10 starts. ... Right-hander Tommy Hunter (2-2, 5.07) is scheduled to pitch for the Orioles when they open a three-game series in Toronto on Monday night. ... The Royals begin a three-game series in Cleveland. RHP Nate Adcock (0-2, 2.33) is the Royals' probable.
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