photo by: Associated Press

Kansas City Royals' Meibrys Viloria (72) scores as Baltimore Orioles catcher Chance Sisco (15) waits for a late throw in the fourth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Kansas City, Mo. — Whit Merrifield hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning after Kansas City loaded the bases on three bunts, and the Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 Saturday night.

Bubba Starling hit his first homer at Kauffman Stadium after growing up about 30 miles away, and Hunter Dozier connected for the 24th time this season for Kansas City.

Anthony Santander went deep twice for the Orioles, who fell apart defensively in the eighth when Kansas City tried to play small ball.

Slow-footed Meibrys Viloria started the Royals’ rally with a bunt single. Brett Phillips tried to sacrifice him to second, but Viloria beat the throw. Nicky Lopez followed with another sacrifice attempt, and catcher Chance Sisco’s throw to third was off the mark.

Merrifield followed with his second sacrifice fly of the night to make it 6-5, and Dozier added an RBI on a groundout.

The three bunts came against reliever Paul Fry (1-6), who took the loss even though those were his only batters faced.

Scott Barlow (3-3) got the win with 1 2/3 perfect innings. Ian Kennedy pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save in 27 chances.

Starling homered leading off the second, Santander countered with a leadoff shot in the fourth, and then Kansas City pieced together a three-run fourth on two sacrifice flies and a groundout RBI. That rally was helped when Phillips’ routine fly to center was dropped by Stevie Wilkerson.

Baltimore got four runs in the fifth inning to retake the lead. Sisco hit a two-out solo home run before Johnathan Villar and Trey Mancini singled to end the night for starter Jorge Lopez. Santander greeted reliever Tim Hill with his second home run of the night, the first multihomer game of his career.

Dozier’s solo shot tied it in the seventh.

Sweeping up

The Royals acquired minor league slugger Ryan McBroom from the Yankees for international signing bonus pool money and a player to be named or cash. The 27-year-old first baseman and outfielder hit .315 with 26 homers for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Trainer’s room

Royals LHP Danny Duffy is expected to be reinstated from the 10-day IL for Sunday’s start against the Orioles. Duffy has been on the IL since Aug. 8 with a left hamstring strain. … Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi and C Cam Gallagher also are expected to be activated Sunday. Mondesi has been on the IL since July 17 with a left shoulder subluxation and Gallagher has been on the IL since Aug. 8 with a left oblique strain.

Roster moves

The Orioles had three players in the clubhouse and plan to activate them Sunday when rosters can be expanded. OF Dwight Smith Jr. has played in 84 games with this season, hitting .238 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs. RHP Branden Kline is 1-4 with a 7.44 ERA in 25 relief appearances. Tanner Scott is 1-0 with a 5.29 ERA in 15 appearances with the parent club. The Orioles are considering other call-ups but have not announced them.

The Royals are expected to have some call-ups, but with most of their minor league teams preparing for postseason, no announcements were made, other than from the injured list.

Up next

Orioles: RHP Aaron Brooks (4-7, 5.79 ERA) will try to duplicate his recent outing against the Royals when he allowed one run on seven hits over five innings.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (5-6, 4.96 ERA) will return from his second stint on the 10-day injured list to make the start.