The inning unraveled in pieces, a baseball game slipping away in a matter of moments on Saturday night. The Royals’ usually sturdy defense began to bend. Starting pitcher Kris Medlen labored through an uneven performance. An RBI blooper tucked inside the foul line and found grass in right field.
The opponent on this night, the Baltimore Orioles, appeared ready to pounce. The result was a decisive four-run fourth inning in the Royals’ 8-3 loss at Kauffman Stadium, an inning that could have been avoided had a double play been completed with a little more urgency; an inning that could have been limited had a run-down been executed in more proper fashion.