KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 5 (UPI) -- Bruce Chen pitched seven strong innings and Melky Cabrera drove in four runs Thursday, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 9-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Chen (4-1) allowed five hits and the Baltimore run, which came on a first-inning hit from Adam Jones. Chen walked two and struck out five. Jeremy Jeffress had two innings of no-hit relief for the Royals.
Kansas City ripped Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (1-3) for eight runs and 10 hits in building an 8-1 lead through four innings.
The Royals erased the Orioles' run with a four-run rally in the bottom of the first. Cabrera singled in the first run and scored the second for Kansas City.
Alcides Escobar and Chris Getz hit back-to-back doubles for Kansas City in the second inning, making the score 5-1. Cabrera connected for a two-run double and scored the third run in the fourth-inning rally that put the Royals up by seven.
Cabrera finished the scoring with an eighth-inning home run. It was his third of the year.
