Orioles Sweep Royals 8-2 as Blaze Alexander Suffers Fractured Left Hand

Q: Is Pete Alonso's $155M leadership contract truly turning the tide for the sub-.500 Orioles?

Yes — the early evidence suggests Alonso’s $155 million deal is helping change Baltimore’s trajectory, even if it has not yet fully transformed the Orioles into a winning team. The clearest case is the timing. After Alonso challenged the club to make the most of its final nine games before the All-Star break, Baltimore went 6-3, capped by its first four-game winning streak of the season and a sweep of Kansas City. The Orioles are still 46-51, but they have moved from nine games under .500 to just two games out of an AL Wild Card spot. In a crowded but modest Wild Card race, that is meaningful. Alonso’s impact is not just rhetorical. After a slow start, he has rebounded into the kind of middle-of-the-order force Baltimore paid for, producing 19 home runs, 59 RBIs and a 124 wRC+ by early July, while playing every game. His presence lengthens the lineup, changes how opponents pitch, and has come with improved defense at first base. Just as important, Baltimore signed him to fill a leadership gap after a disappointing 2025, and by team accounts he has done that. He has mentored younger hitters, helped build clubhouse chemistry, and become a trusted voice for manager Craig Albernaz. Still, “turning the tide” should be framed carefully. The Orioles remain below .500, and Sunday’s momentum was tempered by Blaze Alexander’s hand fracture. Alonso appears to be a major reason Baltimore is back in the race; whether the contract truly changes the season will depend on the second half.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 12

Blaze Alexander suffered a nondisplaced fracture of his left hand after Royals reliever Lucas Erceg hit him in the seventh inning, triggering a brief bench-clearing confrontation with no ejections.
Baltimore still finished an 8-2 win and three-game sweep behind Leody Taveras, who homered and drove in 3 runs, while Samuel Basallo added a solo shot.
A 5-run sixth broke the game open at 7-2 after Kansas City right fielder Jac Caglianone lost a fly ball in the sun and Matt Strahm balked home a run.
Kansas City dropped its 5th straight game and was swept for the 8th time this season, falling to a majors-worst 38-59 and 21 games under .500.
Baltimore enters the All-Star break on its first 4-game winning streak of 2026, while the Royals resume Friday at home against San Diego.