Alex Gordon matched his career-high with four hits and Yamaico Navarro drove in three runs to the lead the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 9-4 on Thursday night.

The Royals sent 11 men to the plate in a six-run sixth inning to break open the game. The inning included eight hits with Navarro doubling home two runs and Chris Getz stroking a two-run single. Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler added run-producing singles in the inning.

The Royals had 17 hits with every starter having at least one. Gordon, Cabrera and Butler, the first three Kansas City hitters, combined to go 8 for 14 with six runs, two doubles and three RBIs.

Reliever Blake Wood (5-0) worked two hitless innings, walking two and striking out two, to pick up the victory.

Royals starter Jeff Francis, who pitched eight scoreless innings to beat Cleveland in his previous start, gave up four runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings before Wood replaced him.

Orioles rookie left-hander Zach Britton (6-9) again ran into difficulties in the first inning. Britton, who had allowed 13 runs in a combined one inning in his previous two starts, allowed three runs and three hits in the first. Two of the runs were unearned after his throwing error. Britton, who allowed six runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, is 1-8 in his past 14 starts after starting the season 5-1.

Navarro, Butler and Jeff Francoeur, who had three hits, each drove in a run in the first.

J.J. Hardy homered for the Orioles in the fifth inning, his 19th this season and the 100th of his career. Hardy, however, left after six innings with a sore left ankle.

Nick Markakis, Matt Wieters and Chris Davis drove in the other Baltimore runs. Markakis and Wieters each had two hits and an RBI. Adam Jones doubled and singled for his seventh multi-hit game in his past 12.

— Associated Press —

Luke Hochevar took some time to reflect during the All-Star break. He’s pitched like an All-Star since then.

Hochevar pitched neatly into the eighth inning, Billy Butler homered and drove in four runs and the Kansas City Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 on Wednesday night.

Hochevar (8-8), the first player picked in the 2006 draft, is 4-0 in his past seven starts and has matched the longest winning streak of his career. He also set a personal high for wins in a season, having gone 7-13 in 2009.

“It gave me time to sit down and look at the things I wanted to do,” Hochevar said of his time off. “I just looked down the road, what I wanted things to look like in a month and the things I needed to do to get there. Just really keeping the game simple and let things come to me instead of just trying so hard, just play the game instead of working at it.

“I’m just going out and trying to execute quality pitches and try to keep it as simple as possible and just make good pitches really, changing speeds, keeping guys guessing, not being predictable,” he said. “You can do those things, but if you’re not executing, they’re good enough hitters to square the ball up. That’s really where my focus has been, making quality pitches.”

Hochevar allowed one earned run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked one and retired 16 straight batters during one stretch.

Hochevar is 3-0 with a 2.70 earned-run average in his past four starts.

“Hoch has been on a roll since the All-Star break,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He was terrific. He pitched up, pitched down, pitched in, pitched out. He’s refined his approach and simplified it.”

Jeremy Guthrie (5-15) yielded six runs on eight hits in seven innings. He leads the majors in losses.

Hochevar gave up a run in the first when Adam Jones doubled with two outs and scored on Vladimir Guerrero’s single but did not allow another hit until the eighth.

“We didn’t mount much offense,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “That was the story of the game. Hochevar really picked it up from the third inning on. You’d like to see us mount a little more offense. That seems to happen when Jeremy pitches.”

Butler had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and hit a three-run homer in the seventh. His 13th homer came on a 3-0 pitch after Manny Pina doubled for his first big league hit and Alex Gordon singled.

“It was down the middle, thigh high,” Butler said. “If it’s not in that spot where I’m looking, I’m not swinging. What you do on a 3-0 pitch is you’re looking to do damage. If not, you take it.”

Alcides Escobar’s triple in the second scored Yamaico Navarro and Chris Getz, putting the Royals up 3-1. Escobar and Gordon each contributed three hits.

The Orioles got unearned run in the third when Hochevar committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, allowing Robert Andino to advance to third. He scored on J.J. Hardy’s sacrifice fly.

After Matt Wieters singled and Pie doubled in the eighth, Greg Holland replaced Hochevar. Holland hit Andino to load the bases with one out but struck out Hardy and retired Nick Markakis on a ground out to end the inning.

Holland picked up his first career save in his second opportunity.

— Associated Press —

Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has been voted the July recipient of the Gillette presents American League Rookie of the Month Award.

Hosmer led A.L. rookies with 34 hits and 12 doubles in 27 games during the month of July.  The 21-year-old also added five home runs, 19 RBI, 12 runs scored and three stolen bases with a .523 slugging percentage and a .358 on-base percentage.  Hosmer, who was the third overall selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, recorded a career-best 11-game hitting streak from July 19th-30th, batting .426 (20-for-47) during the streak with a home run, five doubles, eight RBI and seven runs scored.

The left-handed-hitting slugger posted 10 multi-hit contests during the month, including a four-hit contest on July 3rd at Colorado in which Hosmer tied a career-best with four RBI.  Hosmer has now collected 27 multi-hit games on the season to lead all A.L. rookies.  On July 15th at Target Field in Minnesota, Eric connected on a game-winning, two-out, two-run home run in the top of the ninth to give the Royals a 2-1 victory over the Twins.  In a four-game set against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park from July 25th-28th, Hosmer batted .421 (8-for-19) with two doubles, a home run and five RBI.

Of Hosmer’s 10 home runs since being called up to the Majors on May 6th, four have given the Royals a lead while two have tied the game.  The Florida native leads the Royals with 16 go-ahead RBI and nine game-winning RBI this season.  Among A.L. rookies, Hosmer ranks first in on-base percentage (.333) and walks (23); second in hits (89), doubles (19) and total bases (142); third in batting average (.284), home runs (10), RBI (47), slugging percentage (.454) and extra-base hits (31); and fourth in runs (33).

Other rookies receiving votes included Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Mark Trumbo (.247, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 5 2B, 12 R, .528 SLG) and reliever Jordan Walden (1-1, 2.35 ERA, 6 SV, 7.2 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 SO); Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 3.08 ERA, 26.1 IP, 20 H, 7 BB, 13 SO); Seattle Mariners second baseman Dustin Ackley (.308, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 8 2B, 1 3B, 10 R, .516 SLG); Hosmer’s Kansas City teammate Louis Coleman (1-0, 0.61 ERA, 10 G, 14.2 IP, 9 H, 5 BB, 15 SO); Chicago White Sox reliever Chris Sale (0-1, 1.29 ERA, 9 G, 14.0 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 16 SO); and New York Yankees infielder Eduardo Nuñez (.333, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 6 2B, 1 3B, 11 R, 5 SB, .480 SLG).

Hosmer will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, to commemorate his Rookie of the Month performance.

— MLB Press Release —

The official logo for the 2012 All-Star game has been unveiled.

Next year’s game is at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, and the Royals were well-represented when the logo made its debut Tuesday. All-Star relievers Aaron Crow and Joakim Soria and manager Ned Yost all attended the unveiling.

Kansas City has not hosted the All-Star game since 1973, leading mayor Sly James to declare “I just want to say to Major League Baseball: We’ve missed you.”

The Royals’ blue and metallic gold are in the logo, which has a family crest, accompanied by flags and adorned with stars.

Kansas City Royals designated hitter Billy Butler was named Co-American League Player of the Week with Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ervin Santana today.

Butler batted .406 (13-for-32) from July 25-31 in seven games on the Royals road trip, hitting five home runs and driving in 12.  He added a pair of doubles and scored six times, slugging .938 for the week as the Royals went 4-3 at Boston and Cleveland.  The award was Butler’s third of his career, as he earned the honor from August 3-9, 2009 and September 7-13, 2009.  The Player of the Week award was Kansas City’s first of 2011, the first since Brayan Pena on September 6-12, 2010 and the 71st time a Royal has earned the honor.

Santana tossed his first career no-hitter at Cleveland on July 27, striking out 10 and walking one.

— Royals Media Relations —

The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has placed right-handed pitcher Kyle Davies on the 15-day Disabled List, retroactive to July 26, with a right shoulder impingement.  The club is expected to recall left-handed relief pitcher Everett Teaford from Omaha (AAA) prior to tomorrow’s game against the Orioles.

Davies has posted a 1-9 record with a 6.75 ERA for the Royals in 13 starts, last pitching on July 25 at Boston and allowing just one run on five hits in six innings in a no decision.

Teaford, 27, is 0-0 with a save in two stints with the Royals, compiling a 2.25 ERA in 16.0 innings.  The left-hander is also 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA in 16 games (three starts) for the Storm Chasers.

— Royals Media Relations —

Not even word that pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez had passed his physical could put a smile on Manny Acta’s face Sunday afternoon.

Cleveland’s manager had just watched his team lose 5-3 to Kansas City, which completed a 2-6 homestand and dropped the Indians 2½ games behind Detroit in the AL Central.

“To lose three series in a row in front of our own fans is very disappointing,” Acta said.

The fact Saturday’s blockbuster trade with Colorado was official, giving the Indians an ace pitcher at the top of their rotation, was the only good news Acta got all week.

Cleveland’s two wins on the homestand came on ninth-inning rallies. Rookie Jason Kipnis’ first major league hit drove in the winning run for a victory over Los Angeles on Monday and Matt LaPorta’s three-run homer capped a comeback in Saturday’s victory over Kansas City.

Other than that, the homestand was entirely forgettable. The Indians were no-hit by the Angels’ Ervin Santana and committed five errors on Wednesday. Cleveland suffered a 12-0 loss against the Royals on Friday.

The Indians were outscored 33-15, which doesn’t bode well considering they open a seven-game trip to Boston and Texas that begins Monday night in Fenway Park.

“We didn’t swing the bats very well this homestand,” designated hitter Travis Hafner said. “We’re going to have to score more runs on this trip because we’re playing good offensive teams. We have to start playing better to help out confidence.”

Acta realizes the upcoming trip could be the defining moment of the season.

“We’ve got to go on the road and battle now,” he said. “We’re going to play two very good teams.”

Cleveland’s latest loss came at the hands of an emergency starter. Danny Duffy, starting for the injured Kyle Davies, pitched into the sixth inning and Jeff Francoeur and Alex Gordon homered for Kansas City, sending the Indians to their eighth loss in 10 games.

The last-place Royals have won eight of 12.

Fausto Carmona (5-11) allowed four runs in 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander has one win since June 15 and Acta was less than enthusiastic about the outing.

“He’s throwing well,” Acta said. “That’s all I’m going to say. I’ve seen him and a couple of our guys put together six or seven good ones and go back. I don’t want to swallow my words. Hopefully, he gives us a chance to win every five days.”

Duffy (3-4) allowed two runs in five innings, giving up eight hits and striking out six. He also picked two runners off first.

Davies was scratched about an hour before game time because of the sore right shoulder that’s bothered him for most of the season.

Joakim Soria, who failed to hold a ninth-inning lead in Saturday’s 5-2 loss, recorded his 20th save in 26 chances. Asdrubal Cabrera drew a one-out walk, but Carlos Santana hit into a game-ending double play.

Jimenez’s physical took place Sunday at the team’s spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz. The Rockies will receive four minor leaguers — pitchers Alex White and Joe Gardner, first baseman Matt McBride and a player to be named, who is expected to be pitcher Drew Pomeranz.

Acta said Jimenez will join the team in Boston. His first start will come against the Rangers.

Kipnis hit his first career home run for the Indians in the fifth. Cabrera doubled and scored on Santana’s RBI triple.

Hafner had an RBI groundout in the eighth as a pinch-hitter.

— Associated Press —

Matt LaPorta’s three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning gave Cleveland its 12th home win its last at bat Saturday, 5-2 over the Kansas City Royals.

LaPorta connected off Royals closer Joakim Soria (5-4) on a 1-1 pitch. It was Soria’s sixth blown save in 25 changes.

Tony Sipp (6-2) pitched the top of the ninth.

Soria hit Asdrubal Cabrera in the right foot with a pitch and Travis Hafner bounced into a forceout and was replaced by pinch runner Orlando Cabrera at first base. Carlos Santana then doubled down the third-base line to put runners on second and third.

Kosuke Fukudome, acquired for two minor-leaguers on Thursday from the Chicago Cubs, hit a sacrifice fly to tie it at 2 before Lonnie Chisenhall walked and LaPorta delivered his 10th homer, a line shot just over the wall in left.

Chris Getz singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth for Kansas City.

Masterson left after yielding a leadoff single to Jeff Francoeur in the ninth after the Indians tied the score in the eighth.

Francoeur stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Moustakas and one out later scored on Getz’s single off reliever Tony Sipp that fell safely in right center.

Cleveland, hitless into the fifth, scored in the eighth to tie it at 1. Chisenhall drew a 12-pitch walk from Tim Collins, moved up on a passed ball and scored on Michael Brantley’s two-out ground single to right off Aaron Crow on a full count. Chisenhall slid in ahead of the tag by catcher Brayan Pena, who entered in the sixth when Matt Treanor left with a concussion after tagging out Matt LaPorta trying to score.

The Indians had not scored since getting an unearned run in the first inning Wednesday, when they were no-hit by Ervin Santana of the Los Angeles Angels.

Royals starter Felipe Paulino held Cleveland to four hits over six innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out four, including the side in the first inning on 15 pitches.

Kansas City took a quick 1-0 lead against Masterson. Alex Gordon opened the game with a walk, went to third on a double by Melky Cabrera and scored on a one-out groundout to second by Eric Hosmer.

Treanor was hurt keeping it scoreless in the sixth. LaPorta doubled and took third on a sharp single to center by No. 9 hitter Ezequiel Carrera.

LaPorta was thrown out trying to score on a fly ball to left by Brantley. Alex Gordon’s throw home was in time and LaPorta bowled over Treanor at the plate. He hung on to the ball, but laid motionless, face down in the dirt. He was taken to a hospital for a CT scan and will be placed on the seven-day concussion list.

The Indians, no-hit by the Angels’ Ervin Santana on Wednesday and beaten by the Royals 12-0 Friday, were hitless again until Carlos Santana doubled. He was stranded as Paulino quickly got the next two batters.

It was yet another tough-luck outing for Masterson, 3-6 since May 12. The right-hander fell has allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts since June 8.

He didn’t get much offense, but rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis made a fine play to start a nifty double play in the sixth. Kipnis snagged Moustakas’ sharp grounder with a dive toward first base. He spun and threw to shortstop Cabrera, who came across the bag and threw to first to complete the inning-ending gem.

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Royals today acquired infielder Yamaico Navarro and minor league right-handed pitcher Kendal Volz from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Mike Aviles.

Navarro, 23, opened the season with Pawtucket (AAA) and was promoted to the big league club on June 30, hitting .216 (8-for-37) in 16 games.  The Royals got a first hand look at Navarro this week when he participated in all four games during KC’s just completed trip to Fenway Park, going 4-for-12 (.333) with a double, walk, two runs scored and RBI.  The native of San Pedro de Macoris, DR, who will report to the Royals in Cleveland, hit .258 (33-for-128) in 34 games for Pawtucket with a .362 on-base pct.  He was originally signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Red Sox in 2005.

Volz, 23, has worked exclusively in relief for Salem (A) this season, going 2-3 with two saves and a 3.33 ERA in 31 appearances.  He has struck out 56 batters in 51.1 innings and held the opposition to a composite .222 batting average, and has been assigned to Wilmington (A). The Bulverde, TX, native was Boston’s ninth-round choice in the 2009 draft out of Baylor University.  His professional career began last year with Greenville in the South Atlantic League, working mainly as a starter, appearing in 26 games (24 starts), going 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA, fanning 94 in 116.1 innings.  He played for Team USA in 2008.

Aviles hit .222 in 53 games for the Royals this year with five home runs and 31 RBI.  He had two stints with the big league club, also spending a little over a month at Omaha (AAA).  The 30-year old infielder was Kansas City’s seventh-round pick in the 2003 draft and made his first appearance in the majors in 2008, hitting .325 in 102 games.  He missed virtually all of the 2009 campaign and a portion of 2010 due to Tommy John surgery on May 24, 2009.

— Royals Media Relations —

Melky Cabrera and the Kansas City Royals got off to a fast start, then kept piling on after Carlos Carrasco drew their ire with a dangerous pitch.

Cabrera hit a grand slam, Jeff Francis pitched eight sharp innings and the Royals pounded the Cleveland Indians 12-0 on Friday night in a testy game between regular AL Central foes.

Billy Butler went deep twice and Alex Gordon also connected for Kansas City, which has won seven of 10. Butler hit a two-run shot in the first and a solo drive in the eighth, giving him five long balls in a four-game homer streak.

“We’re swinging the bats pretty good right now,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Francis threw the ball great.”

Butler came to the plate right after Cabrera’s grand slam in the fourth, and Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco promptly threw one at his head on the first pitch. Players from both dugouts and bullpens came on the field, and Carrasco was ejected.

“That’s not professional,” Butler said. “I understand the game. You don’t go above the shoulders. I knew there was the possibility that I would get hit, but that’s too high. You’re never supposed to throw at somebody’s head.”

Several Royals players gestured and yelled at Carrasco as he was walking to Cleveland’s dugout. Carrasco shouted back before leaving the field.

Right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who was hit in the face while playing in the minors, was the most demonstrative Royals player.

“I was yelling to hit him in the leg or hit him in the side,” Francoeur said. “You don’t throw at someone’s head. You could really hurt somebody. That’s just wrong. That’s why I like the National League because that stuff doesn’t happen. You have to take a bat up there.”

Indians manager Manny Acta also was unhappy with Carrasco.

“We don’t condone throwing at people’s heads,” Acta said. “He was talked to by (pitching coach Tim Belcher). That’s a dangerous situation.”

Carrasco admitted he was upset that Cabrera stood at home plate and admired his 13th homer, but denied the pitch to Butler was intentional.

“I didn’t throw at anybody, the baseball just ran away,” he said. “I know it looked bad after a home run, but there is nothing I can do right there.”

Carrasco was replaced by Chad Durbin, who threw a high-and-inside pitch to Cabrera with the bases loaded in the fifth. Cabrera hit the dirt and glared at Durbin, but didn’t make a move toward the mound.

Francis (4-11) won for the first time since June 10. He allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one.

“It was the offense’s night, for sure” Francis said. “It’s a different game when you get a big lead in the fourth. They didn’t get good wood on the mistakes I did make.”

The Indians, who were no-hit by Angels right-hander Ervin Santana on Thursday, have lost seven of eight, managing just 13 runs during the slide. Right fielder Kosuke Fukudome, acquired from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, went 0 for 4 in his Indians debut.

Carrasco (8-9) lost his fifth straight start and has allowed seven home runs in his losing streak. The right-hander lost for the sixth time in his last seven decisions overall.

— Associated Press —