BALTIMORE -- Orioles shortstop Manny Machado entered Thursday night's game against the Royals leading baseball with a .369 average against right-handed pitchers. He continued that torrid pace in his first at-bat against Ian Kennedy, connecting for two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning.
Machado sent Kennedy's 0-1 two-seamer into right-center field, pulling the Orioles -- in an early four-run hole -- within one en route to an 11-6 win and extending his team lead in homers to 10. Machado, who is having what looks like a career year early, has 29 RBIs for a club that entered the series finale ranked last in the American League in runs scored.
Machado, who will be a free agent at the end of the season and may become available in advance of the non-waiver Trade Deadline, raised his slash line with the homer to .348/.431/.630.