DENVER (AP) — Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run homer and an RBI triple, Hunter Dozier had his first career five-hit game and the Kansas City Royals broke out of their offensive funk in a 14-10 victory over the bumbling Colorado Rockies on Friday night.
Ryan O’Hearn also homered, Michael A. Taylor had three hits and drove in two, and Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a two-run triple for the Royals, who entered the night with the second fewest runs in the majors.
“It feels good. We’ve been waiting for that for a while now,” said Benintendi, who finished a double shy of the cycle. “You’ve got to do it a few times in a row to say you’re going, but it’s good start to the series.”
Brendan Rodgers hit a two-run homer, doubled twice and drove in four, and Sam Hilliard homered for the Rockies in their fifth straight loss. Kyle Freeland (1-4) allowed a career-high 12 of Kansas City’s 18 hits over 4 1/3 innings, and Colorado gave up six unearned runs.
“Missing locations,” Freeland said. “These starts happen. You never want them to happen, but sometimes it’s just not your night.”
Dylan Coleman (1-1) relieved Zack Greinke after Colorado got within 8-7 in the fifth and got out of the inning. Then Benintendi, who beat Kansas City in an arbitration hearing earlier in the day to earn an $8.5 million salary, hit his second triple of the season in a four-run seventh against Alex Colome to give Kansas City another cushion.
Dozier, who scored four runs and drove in one, upped his average to .277. Scott Barlow got the final four outs for his third save.
Defense, a trouble spot in Colorado’s 1-5 trip, flared again in the opener of a nine-game homestand.
Center fielder Yonathan Daza held onto the ball to allow a hung-up Carlos Santana to score in the third. Second baseman Rodgers’ fielding error led…
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