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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eric Hosmer was looking to make amends for his error that led to two unearned runs. Hosmer hit two homer and Alcides Escobar drove in the winning run in the ninth to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night. After Hosmer failed to handle Adam Jones bouncer in the fourth, Matt Wieters hit a two-run two-out homer off Ervin Santana. "It stinks when you make an error and two batters later a guy hits a two-run homer," Hosmer said. "I wanted a chance to redeem myself." Both of Hosmers home runs were off left-hander Wei-Yen Chen. Hosmer is hitting .333 against left-handers. "I guess so," Hosmer said. "Thats what the numbers say." But he entered the game with only one home run in 104 at-bats off left-handers. Hosmer homered in the first and his two-run home run in the eighth tied the score at 3. It was Hosmers third career multi-homer game and his second this season. David Lough singled and scored the game-ending run when Escobar doubled off the fence in left-centre with one out in the ninth. "When I hit it, I thought there was a chance it was gone," Escobar said. "I wasnt trying to hit a home run." Instead, Nate McLouth nearly caught it at the wall. "I was about 3, 4, 5 inches away from catching it," McLouth said. "I didnt miss it by very much." Instead, the ball kicked away off the top padding, giving Lough enough time to score from first. Darren ODay (5-1) took the loss, while Luke Hochevar (3-1), picked up the victory after working a scoreless ninth. "I was trying to throw away and it got in," ODay said of Escobars first-pitch double "Nate gave it a good try." Chen, who went on the disabled list May 13 with a right oblique strain before returning July 10, departed after Hosmers second home run with Lorenzo Cain aboard with one out in the eighth. Chen gave up a home run to Hosmer on a full-count pitch in the first inning. Chen had not permitted a home run in his previous four starts. He retired the next 12 hitters after Hosmers first home run until Escobars single in the fifth. "He just made a couple of mistakes and the ball ran back over the plate," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "They were very similar pitches. He was really good. "He threw the ball really well. For us not to score much and still have the lead, thats a tribute to Santana and Chen, both. I thought Wei-Yin pitched as well as Santana did, or better." A bevy of scouts were in attendance to watch Santana. The right-hander can be a free agent after this season and it has been reported he would be dealt before the July 31 trading deadline without a player having to clear waivers. "Not at all," Santana said of the attention he pays to trade rumours. "If anything is going to happen, its going to happen no matter what." Santana gave up three runs, only one earned, on seven hits in eight innings to lower his ERA to 3.06, which ranks eighth in the American League. "Santana is a good pitcher," McLouth said. "That run in the eighth I thought was going to be big. He throws three pitches for strikes. His slider is one of the best. He keeps it low. Hes throwing in the low 90s and he doesnt walk anybody." The Orioles added a run in the eighth to take a 3-1 lead. Brian Roberts and McLouth led off with singles. After Manny Machado bunted them over, Santana walked Nick Markakis intentionally to load the bases. Roberts scored on Jones fielders choice grounder to shortstop. NOTES: LF Alex Gordon, a first-time All-Star Game selection this year, was not in the Royals lineup. He is hitting .201 with only four extra-base hits in his past 41 games. ... Utility player Elliot Johnson made his first outfield start of the season. ... The Orioles optioned DH-3B Danny Valencia, who was 0 for 22 since June 17, to Triple-A Norfolk to make roster space for RHP Francisco Rodriguez, who was acquired Tuesday from Milwaukee. ... Cain batted leadoff for only the fourth time this season. . The Orioles signed Cuban OF Dariel Alvarez, 24, to a minor league contract. He will report to the Orioles complex in Sarasota, Fla., before being assigned to Class-A Frederick. After defecting in 2012 to Mexico, Alvarez hit .317 for Tuxpan in the Mexican League. Kyle Gibson Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Michael Pineda Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. http://www.twinsrookiestore.com/Twins-Rod-Carew-Kids-Jersey/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Joe Mauer Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Custom Minnesota Twins Jerseys . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. TORONTO -- Mario Lemieux was the unofficial greybeard of Team Canada when the last World Cup of Hockey was played 12 years ago.This time around, the role falls to 37-year-old Joe Thornton, who played alongside Lemieux in 2004 and is being counted on this time for leadership and talent that have withstood the test of time.Thornton finished fourth in NHL scoring last season, compiling 82 points in 82 games for the San Jose Sharks. He added another 21 points in 24 playoff games, reaching his first-ever Stanley Cup Final.Joe Thornton, when you look at his season last year, hes playing great hockey, Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong told the Canadian Press.Armstrong says Thornton is still one of the best passers in hockey, and indeed his 63 assists last season were only topped by Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson. Thornton is the runaway leader in assists since he entered the league in 1997, 212 ahead of second-place Jaromir Jagr. Thornton also has the most points (1,341) of any player in that span, more than 100 points up on Jagr.Canada coach Mike Babcock said Thorntons inclusion on the roster, which came at the initial exclusion of much younger players like Logan Couture, Corey Perry, Ryan OReilly and Taylor Hall, was based on merit. His offensive gifts, which have already been apparent in exhibition play, were too much to ignore.He obviously was a guy that played well enough and played good enough and was important enough on his team, Babcock said.Armstrong was intrigued by how San Jose usedd Thornton last season, mostly on the wing alongside Joe Pavelski.dddddddddddd A plodding skater who didnt make the 2014 Olympic squad in Sochi, Thornton also seemed a better fit for the NHL-sized rink in Toronto where the World Cup will be played, though Armstrong said his inclusion was based on performance, not the ice surface.Thornton, who last represented Canada at the 2010 Olympics, hadnt given much thought to cracking the World Cup roster before getting the invitation this summer.It was just one of those things where you just kind of play, dont think about it and then you get chosen, said Thornton, still oozing energy even after more than 1,500 NHL games.It could be the last time he wears red and white on the international stage, though hes hinted at playing on. Hes already won Olympic (2010) and world junior gold (1997) as well as the crown at that 2004 World Cup, one of two players returning for Team Canada. Jay Bouwmeester is the other.Thornton recalls that `04 squad fondly. The group went undefeated (6-0-0) and included Lemieux as well as other future Hall of Famers Scott Niedermayer, Martin Brodeur and Joe Sakic. Thornton, 25 at the time, set up two of three goals in Canadas 3-2 win over Finland in the final. The Canadians hope hes still got that magic.Ive still got another 10 years (left), said a grinning Thornton, so maybe the next World Cup, Ill play in it, too. ' ' '