Jake Arrieta allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to spark the visiting Baltimore Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

Arrietta (4-1) struck out eight and walked two as the Orioles evened the three-game series.

Reliever Jim Johnson allowed a run in the eighth, but Mike Gonzalez got the last out of the inning with the tying run at third base. Kevin Gregg pitched the ninth and earned his sixth save when he retired Kila Ka’aihue on a fly ball with the tying run at second.

Nick Markakis hit a solo homer in the seventh and had an RBI single to right field in the second for the Orioles, who also got a sacrifice fly by Derrek Lee in the first.

Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer in the second - his eighth of the season and 24th RBI - and Kyle Davies (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for Kansas City.