Orioles 9, Royals 2: J.J. Hardy homered and had three RBIs and Chris Davis drove in three runs to power visiting Baltimore to its season-high fifth consecutive victory.

Scott Feldman (2-1) rode the 18-hit eruption with eight strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits to help the Orioles improved to 8-1 in their last nine games and pull within 2 1/2 games of first-place Boston in the American League East.

Rookie Henry Urrutia, Nick Markakis and Hardy had three hits apiece as Baltimore handed Kansas City its seventh loss in nine games. Hardy clubbed a two-run homer and Davis had a two-run double in a four-run sixth inning that broke the game open.

Royals right-hander Wade Davis (4-9) lost his fourth consecutive start, lasting only 2 2/3 innings and giving up four runs - two earned - on seven hits. David Lough had two his and an RBI single for Kansas City.

A sacrifice fly by Alcides Escobar in the third and Lough's run-scoring single in the fourth pulled the Royals within 4-2, but Brian Roberts delivered a sacrifice fly in the fifth before Baltimore tacked on four runs against reliever Luis Mendoza in the sixth inning.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Davis' three RBIs gave him 97 on the season, moving him past Detroit's Miguel Cabrera (96) for the major-league lead. ... Royals CF Lorenzo Cain made a spectacular diving catch in the second inning off a shot by Adam Jones to save three runs. ... Hardy's homer was the 150th of his career and his seventh in 31 games against Kansas City.