The Royals collected eight hits but really were never much of a threat to Baltimore or their starting pitcher, Mike Cuellar, as the Orioles took a 4-1 win at Municipal Stadium.

Kansas City bunched three of their hits together in the fourth inning. Singles by Paul Schaal and Lou Piniella set up Jerry Adair’s RBI single, which cut the Baltimore lead to 2-1. However, Piniella was the last Royal to reach third base until there were two outs in the ninth. Cuellar struck out four and walked two while lowering his ERA to 2.43.

Royals starter Wally Bunker, a former Oriole, did not pitch badly, scattering seven hits over seven innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Frank Robinson started the scoring as he led off the fourth with a triple to right. Robinson was not known for his speed, so perhaps the Royals defense fell asleep a little. Robinson alertly rounded third and noticed Adair still had the ball in short right field and was not ready to throw. So Robinson took off for home, sliding in safely as Adair’s throw flew over catcher Ellie Rodriguez. Boog Powell followed with a traditional, over-the-fence home run for a 2-0 lead.

Baltimore added a run in the fifth on doubles by Don Buford and Paul Blair. Those two teamed up for the Orioles’ fourth and final run in the seventh, as Buford drew a two-out walk, stole second, and scored on a Blair single.

With the loss, the Royals fell to 42-59 on the season. They remained in fourth place in the AL West, 20.5 games behind Minnesota.

Box score and play-by-play: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA196907290.shtml

Today’s birthdays: Cedric Tallis (1914), Dar Smith (1960), Luis Alicea (1965), Mike Williams (1968), Ryan Braun (1980)