Leody Taveras -- General News

The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-5 in 12 innings on Monday night, with Leody Taveras hitting his first career grand slam in a five-run 12th inning burst. The game featured dramatic late-inning heroics, as the Orioles came back from the brink of defeat multiple times. Samuel Basallo tied the game 1-1 in the ninth inning with an RBI single, then led off the 12th with another single before Taveras' 419-foot grand slam to center field put Baltimore ahead 7-2.

Kansas City made the final inning interesting when Nick Loftin hit a bases-clearing double off Cameron Foster, making it 7-5, but Foster retired the next three batters to secure the victory. The loss marked Kansas City's eighth straight defeat. Seth Lugo was effective for the Royals through seven innings, surrendering just one run on one hit while striking out seven. However, Kansas City stranded 16 baserunners despite outhitting Baltimore 14-6, including leaving the bases loaded with one out in the first inning and nobody out in the third.

Leody Taveras was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday after spending his entire career with the Texas Rangers. Though initially disappointed by the move, Taveras quickly adapted to his new team. He made an immediate impact in his debut on May 8th against Oakland, batting seventh and playing right field. With two outs in the eighth inning of a tied game, Taveras delivered a game-tying RBI single, then scored the go-ahead run on Dylan Moore's subsequent double, giving Seattle a 6-5 victory.

Taveras' quick integration into the Mariners lineup came despite a grueling travel day, having flown from Boston to San Francisco before driving 100 miles to Sacramento. Manager Dan Wilson praised his immediate adjustment, stating that "the good at-bats just were very contagious, because he picked it up right away." Taveras expressed his readiness to move forward, saying "Not easy, but this is the business. I understand all of those things. I'm ready and happy to be part of the Seattle Mariners."

Taveras is expected to assume a significant role in right field for the Mariners due to injuries to their top two right fielders. Victor Robles is sidelined with a fractured left shoulder and is not expected to return until around the All-Star break, while Luke Raley's right oblique strain is projected to keep him out at least five weeks from full baseball activity.