Crew in goals (8) and assists (5). Meanwhile, Toronto split a pair

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Nelson Cruz has only two hits in 15 at-bats against the Kansas City Royals this season. Both are home runs. Cruz hit a two-run homer and the first-place Baltimore Orioles beat the Royals 2-1 on Thursday night to snap a four-game losing streak. Cruz homered in the fourth after Chris Davis drew a walk to lead off the inning. It was Cruzs 12th home run, which is second in the American League to the 15 of Chicago White Sox rookie Jose Abreu. Cruzs 35 RBIs are tied for second in the AL. "Hes one of the best power hitters in the American League over the past five or six years," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Hes hit in a good hitters park in Texas, but hes got power to all fields." Wei-Yin Chen (5-2) limited the Royals to one run and seven hits over 5 1-3 innings with one walk and one strikeout. Chen, who is 5-1 in his past seven starts, was removed in the sixth after Salvador Perez walked and Alex Gordon singled with one out. Darren ODay replaced Chen and struck out Danny Valencia and retried Johnny Giavotella on a fly to right. Royals rookie right-hander Yordano Ventura (2-3) struck out nine and walked one in 6 1-3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits. After Cruzs home run, Ventura retired the next 10 batters, striking out seven, including six straight at one stretch. "He made a mistake to Nelson Cruz and it wasnt even a mistake," Yost said. "I think he threw a good fastball to Nelson. It was up and over the middle of the plate and he ambushed it." Cruz hit the first pitch out to right-centre from Ventura, who has a fastball that routinely hits triple digits on radar guns. "We know hes got a great fastball," Cruz said. "He can get you quick. Hes got great stuff. It was one of those at-bats that I got what I was looking for. We were trying to be aggressive and he was throwing a lot of first-pitch fastballs. I was looking for a fastball." With a northwest wind blowing 15 mph and gusting up to 28, it was less than ideal conditions to hit a home run. "You could have made some money off me if youd have bet me that somebody could have gotten a ball out of here tonight," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. Valencias sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the fourth scored Eric Hosmer for the only run off Chen. "Ventura pitched great," Giavotella said. "We just couldnt back him up with any runs." Left-hander Zach Britton, who had not allowed a run in 7 1-3 innings in his past eight appearances, worked a perfect ninth for his first major league save. Showalter elected to go to Britton after closer Tommy Hunter blew his past two save chances. "Guys graduate," Showalter said. "It was a good start and its good to know that if we need him for a given night hell be ready. Well see how it goes from here." The Royals did not have a baserunner off four Baltimore relievers, who retired 11 straight. "Our pitchers did a really good job and we really needed this win," Cruz said. "Anytime you can win a game by one run its huge. We feel like we can get something going." The Orioles, who went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, threatened in the seventh and eighth innings, but came away empty. Gordon, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, threw out J.J. Hardy at the plate to end the seventh for his fourth outfield assist this season and his 58th since moving to the outfield in 2011. Hardy attempted to score from second on Nick Markakis single. Manny Machado and Adam Jones led off the Orioles eighth with singles off Louis Coleman, the third Kansas City pitcher. Kelvin Herrera replaced Coleman and struck out Davis and Cruz and retired Steve Clevenger on a grounder to strand the runners. NOTES: The Orioles recalled RHP Evan Meek from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned RHP Kevin Gausman, who lost a Wednesday start to Detroit, to the same club. ... Markakis snapped an 0-for-14 skid with three singles. ... Royals RHP Wade Davis has a stiff neck and was not available. Nike Baseball Jerseys 2020 . The Canadiens captain, who underwent surgery on his injured biceps in the off-season, had been skating with the team in a non-contact capacity since last week. Cheap Baseball Jerseys Authentic .9 million deal Thursday. The 25-year McGinn had 19 goals and 19 assists in 79 games last season in helping the Avalanche tie a franchise record with 52 wins. https://www.fakebaseballjerseys.com/ . The 17-time Grand Slam champion, who lose three straight finals in Monte Carlo to Rafael Nadal from 2006-08, has not played in the tournament since 2011, when he lost to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals. Fake Baseball Jerseys . Reimer is winless (0-2-1) since returning from a six-week absence due to concussion-like symptoms. The Maple Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to the hosting Washington Capitals on Friday. Wholesale Nike Baseball Jerseys . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday.TORONTO - Toronto FC will look to complete a sweep of the season series when they visit the Columbus Crew for the third and final meeting of the season Saturday. TFC has defeated the Crew twice this season with a 2-0 victory in Columbus on April 5 and a 3-2 win in Toronto on May 31. Toronto is 2-7-2 all time at Crew Stadium entering the match. "When I look at those Columbus games and I look at our team now, I see two different teams to tell you the truth," said coach Ryan Nelsen. "I see a different team in us. Were a lot more mature, a lot better with the ball. "Obviously weve got a couple of injuries still in the back, but I feel like weve kind of progressed on." Its a homecoming of sorts for former Columbus midfielder Dominic Oduro, who was acquired by Toronto (8-7-5) on June 6 in exchange for Alvaro Rey. Oduro appeared in 45 games for the Crew (6-7-9) contributing 13 goals. Following Fridays training session, Oduro was downplaying the significance of the game. "Its just another game, Im not going to try to push it otherwise Ill lose my focus," he said. "You just have to keep your cool, especially against a former team. These games are really critical; you dont want to try to prove too much against your former team. I believe I know my ability and they know my abilities too." Additionally, TFC defender Nick Hagglund, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, who made his MLS and Reds debut on April 5 at Crew Stadium will have as many as 60 family members in attendance. Toronto will be without Jermain Defoe for a second straight game. The team announced Monday that the forward would miss up to three weeks with a groin injury. Additionally, the Reds will once again be without captain Steven Caldwell (quad)) and defender Mark Bloom (MCL strain).dddddddddddd "Theyre three major things," said Nelsen of the injuries. "All the other teams seem to cry out from the roof tops when they get injuries, but nobody seems worried when we do. Weve just got to get on." Nelsen added that both Caldwell and Bloom are close to returning to full training, but their availability for Torontos game at Kansas City (Aug. 16) is uncertain. Columbus enters the match coming off a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire last weekend. Federico Higuain leads the Crew in goals (8) and assists (5). Meanwhile, Toronto split a pair of road games last week dropping a 3-0 decision at D.C. United before picking up the clean sheet in Montreal with a 2-0 victory. "Obviously if we win this game (Saturday), it sets us up in a really nice position with a very difficult game against Kansas City," said Nelsen. "After that, its a favourable kind of run in and I think were getting better and better. Were evolving, as the season is evolving, quite nicely. "I think three points against Columbus will be a huge step to where we want to be." Three points in Columbus will also create some breathing room for Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings. Currently the third place Reds lead the fifth place Crew by just two points with a pair of games in hand. "A bunch of six-pointers really when you look at it, not only will you take three points, but you take it away from the other teams," said midfielder Collen Warner. "Very important games coming up." Added Oduro: "At this point, every point counts in the table. Especially second half of the season, this is where you have to separate the men from the boys." ' ' '