Orioles news: The O’s pulled a ridiculous win out of their hat

TL;DR

The Baltimore Orioles secured a dramatic 7-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in 12 innings, coming back from a 1-0 deficit with two outs in the ninth. Samuel Basallo's clutch hitting and Leody Taveras' grand slam were pivotal in the win.

Key points

Orioles won 7-5 against Royals in 12 innings
Samuel Basallo hit a game-tying and go-ahead RBI
Leody Taveras hit his first career grand slam
Orioles trailed 1-0 with two outs in the ninth
The win showcased both strengths and weaknesses of the team

Baltimore OriolesKansas City Royals

Apr 20, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Cameron Foster (65) celebrates with catcher Samuel Basallo (29) after the win over the Kansas City Royals in the twelfth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images Good morning, Camden Chatters. You know, over the course of a six-month season, you’ll see every kind of baseball game. Sometimes you’ll see a heavyweight clash between two tenacious clubs, battling with every fiber of their being as they put on a clinic of intense, well-played baseball. And then other times you’ll see what can only be described as a frenetic slap fight between two mediocre opponents, each apparently trying to give the game away but neither one willing to take it. You can probably guess which of these descriptions applies to last night’s ridiculous Orioles vs. Royals contest. Somehow, some way, the O’s ended up with a 7-5, 12-inning win in a game that they trailed 1-0 with two outs in the ninth. For 8.2 innings, it was shaping up to be one of the Birds’ most embarrassing losses, one in which they managed a single hit — from the second batter of the game, no less — before the O’s offense vanished for eight innings. Gunnar Henderson got picked off twice. Kyle Bradish allowed 13 baserunners in 5.1 innings to a terrible Royals offense and somehow only one run, owing to the aforementioned terrible Royals offense. In the end, Samuel Basallo saved the day with the game-tying, two-out, two-strike hit in the ninth and the go-ahead RBI single in the 12th, and added the cherry on top with his first career grand slam. And still the Orioles almost blew a five-run lead in the bottom of the 12th. That was the game in a nutshell. An O’s victory both thrilling and maddening, equal parts exciting and exasperating. Against any other team it probably wouldn’t have been a win, but the Orioles took full advantage of the worst team in the AL. I’m not going to go so far as to say that this is a win that will give the Orioles some momentum, because all of their season-long warts were on full display for most of it. Their problems aren’t exactly fixed. Still, it was nice to see Basallo’s bat start to come around and unexpected 2026 stalwarts like Taveras, , and Anthony Nunez continue to contribute. The O’s need their star players to return to form, but in the meantime they’ve had lesser-known players keeping them afloat so far. What the Orioles did last night sure wasn’t the way you’d script it, and it’s not a sustainable way to win. But let’s take the victories now and sort the rest out later.

Q&A

How did the Orioles win against the Royals on April 20, 2026?

The Orioles won 7-5 in 12 innings, overcoming a late-game deficit with key hits from Samuel Basallo and Leody Taveras.

What were the key moments in the Orioles vs. Royals game?

Key moments included Samuel Basallo's game-tying hit in the ninth and his go-ahead RBI in the twelfth, along with Leody Taveras' grand slam.

Who were the standout players in the Orioles' win over the Royals?

Samuel Basallo and Leody Taveras were standout players, with Basallo driving in crucial runs and Taveras hitting his first career grand slam.

What does this win mean for the Orioles' season?

While the win was thrilling, it highlighted ongoing issues for the Orioles, indicating that they still need their star players to return to form.