Kansas City, Mo. ? Chad Mottola went eight years between major-league homers, and it felt a lot longer.

“It feels like about 20,” the veteran outfielder said.

Called up earlier in the day from Triple-A, Mottola lashed a fastball from Brian Anderson 419 feet for a three-run shot in the third inning Wednesday, powering Baltimore to a 13-4 romp over Kansas City.

It was his first major-league homer since 1996 when the oft-injured former first-round draft pick played for Cincinnati.

“It was off Fernando Valenzuela way back when, so that will give you an idea,” he said. “A couple of guys (asked) was it my first one. I said, ‘No, I’ve been around a little while.'”

Miguel Tejada and David Newhan also connected as every starter scored and all but Brian Roberts got a hit. The Orioles matched a season high for runs.

Javy Lopez was 4-for-4, scored three times and drove in a run. Melvin Mora, who missed 10 games because of a foot injury, was 2-for-4 and raised his average to .357, and Jerry Hairston had three hits.

After a long losing stretch, the Orioles have begun to play better, manager Lee Mazzilli said.

“I feel very good about the direction we’re going,” he said. “I think we’re seeing a change. I told them today I feel a lot of progress.”

Daniel Cabrera (5-3), who pitched a four-hit shutout against Atlanta his previous start, gave up three hits and three runs in seven innings.

Cabrera held the Royals hitless until Ken Harvey singled leading off the fifth. Another single and a hit batsman then loaded the bases and two runs scored when Cabrera walked David DeJesus and Tony Graffanino.

Anderson (1-8), whose ERA as a starter ballooned from 6.75 to 8.31 lost his eighth in a row. It was his first start since May 22 when he was banished to the bullpen, where he’d been effective with a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings.

Asked to describe his performance in one word, Anderson replied, “Can I use two? Horribly disappointing.”

Three of the eight runs against him were unearned because of two errors in the five-run first.

Brian Roberts reached leading off on shortstop Angel Berroa’s throwing error and Mora singled him home. Tejada then hit Anderson’s fastball 394 feet over the fence in left field.

With two out, Larry Bigbie hit a line drive into dead center that bounced out of DeJesus’ glove for a two-base, two-run error.

“It’s the same old story. He was pitching behind in the count, and when you pitch behind in the count you’re going to get hit,” Royals manager Tony Pena said. “We’ll have to talk about what we’re going to do.”

Newhan hit a two-run homer off reliever John Huisman in the fifth to make it 11-0. The Orioles added two in the eighth on RBI doubles by Lopez and Luis Matos off Nate Field.

The Royals’ third error was a throwing miscue by second baseman Graffanino which allowed Bigbie to score the ninth run in the third inning.

The Royals, who have lost six of seven, got a run in the seventh on DeJesus’ RBI single and one in the eighth on Desi Relaford’s RBI single.

Notes: Royals pitching coach John Cumberland was fired. Since 1998, Kansas City has had six pitching coaches. … The Royals lead the league with 50 unearned runs. … DeJesus was credited with an outstanding diving catch of Newhan’s sinking liner in the seventh. But replays showed he trapped the ball. … Baltimore LHP Eric Dubose will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Thursday to remove bone chips from his left elbow. He’s been on the DL since June 20. … Royals C Kelly Stinnett underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, and is out for the season. … The Orioles won for just the third time in 13 road games.