The Royals had a hard time getting things going Sunday, combining for just six hits as a team; as they were defeated by the Oakland Athletics 5-2. Kansas City fell to 18-16 with the loss, while Oakland won the three games series and improved their mark to 18-17.
Jeff Francis lasted 6.1 innings for the Royals giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits, as he fell to 0-4 with the loss. Four A's batters reached base in the first inning and two came around to score giving Oakland an early 2-0 advantage which starting pitcher Tyson Ross held, as he gave up two runs on six hits over six innings to get the win and improve to 2-2 on the year.
Kevin Kouzmanoff homered off Francis with two outs in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 3-0, before Kansas City answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Eric Hosmer doubled for his first career extra-base hit as driving in Melky Cabrera. The hit provided Hosmer with his first career RBI as well. Mitch Maier singled to score Hosmer, Wilson Betemit was tagged out trying to advance to third, ending the inning.
Blake Wood gave up a run in the eighth, while Kurt Suzuki his a solo home run in the ninth off Louis Coleman to extend the lead to 5-2. Brian Fuentes pitched a flawless ninth inning to pick up his ninth save, as Kansas City ended the homestand 6-3, but lost their first home series of the year at the hands of the A's.
Hosmer paved the way for the Kansas City offense, collecting two hits on the day. Meanwhile Cabrera, Jeff Francoeur, Maier, and Alcides Escobar each had a single in the loss.
The Royals have an off day Monday as they travel to New York to face the Bronx Bombers. Kyle Davies (1-4 7.32 ERA) will be pitching Tuesday night, facing Freddy Garcia (1-2 2.88) of the Yankees. New York is 19-13 and tied for the American League East Division lead with Tampa Bay, while Kansas City is in second place in the Central, 4.5 games back of Cleveland. The Royals and Yankees are tied for the most runs in baseball, so don't be surprised to see some runs put up on the board over the next few days.