Kansas City has had a disastrous start to the 2017 season, but they were able to pick up a victory over Oakland 3-1 before hosting the Angels this weekend. The Royals are now just 3-6 on the season, and they ended a three-game losing skid. The Athletics are now back to a 5-5 record. KC's starter Jason Vargas picked up his second win of the season. He gave up no earned runs and just four hits in 7.2 innings pitched. Kelvin Herrera was able to get his first save of the season. Opposing starter Jesse Hahn recorded his first loss, punching out seven batters but also giving up all three runs.
Athletics vs. Royals series capsule
- Monday: Oakland 2-0
- Wednesday: Oakland 8-3
- Thursday: Kansas City 3-1
Cain aids Royals with early scoring
Kansas City was able to get on the board immediately after retiring Oakland's side to open up the first inning. Three straight singles by Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas, and Lorenzo Cain delivered the game's first score. Eric Hosmer recorded the team's first out after a good battle with Hahn, but Salvador Perez would punch in another run on a line-drive single. That prompted a coaching visit with Hahn, but he was able to settle down after that and get the last two outs of the frame.
The Athletics continued struggling to generate much offense. Kansas City ended up capitalizing by putting up another score in the third inning.
Cain got a leadoff single while Hosmer was walked on four pitches. Smart base running put Cain at third base during Brandon Moss' at-bat. Moss responded by drilling a sacrifice fly to bring in Cain. That gave the Royals a 3-0 lead after three innings.
Athletics struggle with no leadoff runners
Oakland continued to struggle to get anything going.
In the fourth inning, Jed Lowrie hit a single, but Khris Davis responded by grounding into a double play on a 3-0 count. Kansas City had a leadoff runner in the fourth and fifth innings but didn't generate any more runs in the contest. In the top of the sixth, the Athletics had Adam Rosales double for the first time this season after Stephen Vogt struck out.
Rajai Davis also picked up a walk, but it was all for naught.
Technically, Oakland never had a leadoff player on base, but they got the next best thing with Davis finally breaking the ice with a solo homer in the top of the ninth to cut the lead to 3-1. Lowrie responded immediately with a double on Kelvin Herrera's next pitch. Herrera looked to be well off, but he remained calm and grounded out the side to pick up his first save of the season and end the Royals' losing streak.
