(My Sportsbook) - Michael Tucker had three hits with a homer and two runs scored to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 8-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday. Ken Harvey went 2-for-4 and knocked in two runs for the Royals, who scored four runs in the seventh inning to break open a close game for the second straight day. Mendy Lopez and Brent Mayne each added two hits, a run scored and an RBI in the victory. Sean Lowe (1-0) notched the win despite giving up two runs and five hits in three innings of relief. Darrell May started for the Royals and gave up three runs in six innings to pick up his fifth straight no-decision. Kansas City has now been in first place for 35 straight games. The last time the Royals did that was from July 17 - August 23, 1978 when they finished the season in first place with a 92-70 record Kansas City sends lefthander Jeremy Affeldt to the mound on Monday in Minnesota. Affeldt is 2-1 on the season with a 4.63 ERA over five starts, but suffered his first loss of the season in his last outing. Affeldt was tagged with the defeat against Boston on Tuesday despite allowing only one run on five hits in four innings of work. He struck out six and walked none. For his career, Affeldt is 0-1 with a 1.76 ERA in six outings, including two starts, versus Minnesota.
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