Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Nick Markakis homered and drove in three runs, as Baltimore downed Kansas City, 4-1, at Kauffman Stadium.

Baltimore snapped a five-game skid on its 10-game road trip behind the right arm of Daniel Cabrera (3-1), who tossed a complete game while scattering one run on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

"Anytime you could score four runs, win the game and have Daniel (Cabrera) pitch the way he pitched, you're sitting in the driver's seat because it's going to be tough for the hitters to see pitches and hit some pitches off a guy with that good stuff," said Markakis.

Luke Hochevar (2-2) gave up four runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Tony Pena, Jr. drove in the only run for the Royals, who have dropped three of their last four games.

Markakis walked with two outs in the first and moved to third on Aubrey Huff's single. A wild pitch plated Markakis for the 1-0 edge.

Freddie Bynum singled to begin the third, and Melvin Mora walked with one out. Markakis followed with a three-run shot to dead center field for the 4-0 advantage.

"That was the difference in the ballgame, that mistake I made on the pitch to Markakis. Yeah, I'd like to have it back, but that's how the game goes," said Hochevar.

Kansas City scratched out a two-out run in the home half of the fifth. Russ Gload singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on Pena's base hit.

Cabrera tamed the Kansas City bats from there. He improved to 4-0 in seven starts against the Royals and won his third straight outing at Kauffman Stadium.