What happened? Gunnar Henderson played his first game of the season, going 1-for-4, making an error a shortstop as the Orioles lost their third straight game, 8-2, to the Kansas City Royals in challenging weather conditions at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night.

The Orioles (3-5) were sloppy on defense with leftfielder Heston Kjerstad losing a ball that led to a run in the first and rightfielder Tyler O’Neill making several bad reads on fly balls, and throwing to the wrong base in the eighth as Bobby Witt Jr. scored from first on a single.

“Sure the conditions, a little bit, but they’re playing in the same conditions. We have to get better defensively,” manager Brandon Hyde told reporters in Kansas City. “We were pretty good the last few years, and it’s something we have to get back to. We have to make the routine play and throw to the right base.”

In the first inning, Salvador Perez hit what appeared to be a routine fly to left that Kjerstad appeared to be tracking. But he took his eyes off the ball to check on centerfielder Cedric Mullins and allowed the ball to drop for the Royals’ first run.

“It looked like he didn’t get a good read on it. I don’t know if he lost it or not,” Hyde said. “It looked like he looked at [Mullins]. I’m not sure.”

After the Orioles took a 2-1 lead in the second against Kansas City starter Seth Lugo (1-0), Perez reached on an error by Henderson. Cavan Biggio singled and after a wild pitch by Oriole starter Dean Kremer, Maikel Garcia hit a two-run double to give Kansas City (3-4) a 3-2 lead.

The Orioles scored twice in the second on an RBI single by Kjerstad that scored Ryan O’Hearn. O’Neill, who had doubled, tried to score standing up, but was tagged out by Perez. Ryan Mountcastle reached on an error by Garcia, allowing Kjerstad to score.

Then, the Orioles stopped producing offensively.

Lugo allowed two runs, one unearned, on five hits in six innings, and the Orioles managed only Henderson’s single in the final three innings.

“I thought we had some good [at-bats] early,” Hyde said. “We ran ourselves out of an inning. We didn’t play clean baseball tonight. Pretty poor game played overall. It’s early. We’re going to get better.”

How was Henderson’s night? Henderson lined out to short, grounded to second, struck out and singled.

It was Henderson’s first game with the Orioles since he sustained a strained right intercostal muscle on February 27^th. He played five rehab games for Triple-A Norfolk.

“Obviously, was very disappointed that I wasn’t well enough for the Opening Day roster, but I was able to get my work in and I’m ready to go now,” Henderson told reporters in Kansas City before the game.

“It’s his first game, just kind of getting into a groove now,” Hyde said.

What happened to Kremer?  “We extended his pitch count by probably 25 by not making a couple of plays defensively,” Hyde said. “Probably cut his outing at least two innings short. With a taxed bullpen, that makes it tough.”

Kremer (1-3) allowed three runs, one unearned officially, on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out one without a walk.

“I thought Dean threw the ball really, really well,” Hyde said. “That’s twice that he’s had really good stuff and we haven’t helped him out defensively.”

In Kremer’s first start, he allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings in the Orioles’ 9-5 win over Toronto.

“I was competitive in zone the whole game,” Kremer said. “I didn’t have any walks. I was throwing the ball pretty much where I wanted to. Came out a little unlucky, but that’s the game of baseball.”

The Orioles lost two straight games to the Royals in the Wild Card Series last October, scoring only one run.

“It’s tough at-bat after tough at-bat,” Kremer said. “There’s not going to be much swing-and-miss, but there’s going to be a lot of action for the fielders. Try to do your best limiting the damage.”

What happened to Pérez? Both Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez pitched effectively in relief, combining for 2 2/3 hitless innings, but Cionel Pérez gave up five runs in the eighth on an RBI double by Garcia, a bunt by Kyle Isbel that scored Garcia, and a three-run single by Vinny Pasquantino that O’Neill failed to field in right.

“He’s off to a tough start. Cionel had a good spring training,” Hyde said.

What does it mean? The game was incredibly sloppy, and uncharacteristic of the Orioles, who played crisply on defense during spring training.

What’s the word? “Sometimes you do everything right, and it doesn’t go your way. Sometimes you do everything wrong and it does go your way.”–Kremer on his outing.

What’s the stat of the day? 19.64. Pérez’s ERA rose markedly.

What’s going on in the minor leagues? Designated hitter Samuel Basallo was removed from Norfolk’s game with left hamstring discomfort. The Tides lost to Charlotte, 7-6. Centerfielder Daz Cameron and first baseman Vimael Machin each drove in two runs.

Shortstop Jeremiah Jackson homered in the ninth inning as Double-A Chesapeake beat Altoona, 3-2.

Shortstop Griff O’Ferrall and outfielder Austin Overn each had two hits and an RBI in High-A Aberdeen’s 4-3 loss to Hub City in 12 innings.

Yeiber Cartaya allowed seven runs on three hits and six walks in two innings as Single-A Delmarva lost to Salem, 12-1.

It was the first game of the season for Chesapeake, Aberdeen and Delmarva.

The Baysox placed right-handers Bradley Brehmer, Logan Rinehart, Houston Roth, Kyle Virbitsky and left-hander Jakob Hernandez on the injured list. Infielders Noelberth Romero and Luis Valdez were placed on the development list.

Left-hander Luis De Leon, the Orioles No. 14 prospect, is on the Aberdeen injured list.

What’s next? Tomoyuki Sugano (0-1, 4.50) will face Michael Wacha (0-1, 2.25) on Saturday at 4:10 p.m.

Call for questions: Most weekdays, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com