MLB: Royals best A’s, reach high-water mark

The Kansas City Royals didn’t let Jarrod Dyson’s defensive miscue slow them down on Thursday.

Dyson drove in the tying run in a five-run seventh, while Nori Aoki and Billy Butler each drove in two runs and the surging Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the Oakland Athletics 7-3.

The Royals have won 18 of 22 to move 12 games above .500 for the first time since July 20, 2003.

Dyson lost Josh Reddick’s fly ball in the sun in the sixth that gave Oakland two runs.

“I feel pretty good after redeeming myself,” Dyson said. “I lost the ball in the sun, so I had to make up for it, pick the team up and pick myself up. It was redeem myself or walk off the field. Which one?”

The Royals took the season series, winning five of seven against the Athletics, who have the best record in the majors.

“We feel pretty good ourselves,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I think every (starting) pitcher we faced on this homestand has been an All-Star and to take six out of seven is pretty good. I’m happy with where we’re at.”

Aoki’s two-run triple put the Royals ahead 5-3. Butler’s single scored Aoki and Alcides Escobar. Dyson fouled off four consecutive pitches before hitting an RBI single to right for the first run of the inning.

Right-hander Jeff Samardzija (3-2) took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings.

“It happened quick,” Melvin said of Samardzjia’s giving up two hits in the seventh.

“Pitch-count wise, he was great. He had good life on his splitter and his fastball was great.”

He left with a 3-2 lead, but Ryan Cook failed to hold it, facing three batters and all scored. Cook’s streak of 21 consecutive scoreless innings ended.

“They’re capitalizing on mistakes right now,” Cook said. “That’s what a good ballclub does. I think we do that. They’re a good ballclub that’s also hot.”

Aaron Crow (6-1), the third of six Kansas City pitchers, picked up the victory, retiring the only batter he faced.

TIGERS 5, PIRATES 2

DETROIT — Max Scherzer struck out 14 batters in eight shutout innings.

Scherzer (14-4), last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, held Pittsburgh to three hits and two walks. Since June 22, he is 6-1 in 10 starts with a 1.78 ERA and 85 strikeouts.

Scherzer’s performance and a homer from J.D. Martinez gave the Tigers a much-needed sweep of the two-game set and a split of the four games in the home-and-home series that started Monday in Pittsburgh.

Francisco Liriano (3-9) took a tough loss for Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out nine, but wasn’t able to match Scherzer’s brilliance.

Nick Castellanos had a two-run single in a three-run eighth. That became important when Gaby Sanchez hit a two-run homer off Phil Coke in the ninth.

DODGERS 6, BRAVES 4

ATLANTA (AP) — Drew Butera hit a two-run homer, his first in almost three months, and Roberto Hernandez threw six strong innings against slumping Atlanta to earn his first win with Los Angeles.

Hernandez (7-8), making his second start since his trade from the Phillies last week, allowed one run on three hits and four walks in six innings.

Kenley Jansen struck out B.J. Upton with runners on second and third for his 34th save.

Butera’s second-inning homer off Aaron Harang (9-7) was his third of the season and first since May 16. Adrian Gonzalez drove in three runs with three hits, and Dee Gordon scored four runs for the NL West leaders, who won three of four in the series.

The Braves, chasing first-place Washington in the NL East, have lost 12 of 14.

BREWERS 6, CUBS 2

CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Fiers struck out a career-high 14 through six innings of three-hit ball, and Milwaukee beat Chicago to widen its NL Central lead.

Khris Davis and Mark Reynolds homered for the Brewers, who broke out of their recent slump at the plate despite resting Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez and Jean Segura. Braun was held out of the lineup with a sore right hand.

Scooter Gennett drove in two runs with a double.

Fiers (2-1) walked one in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville to face the Dodgers last Saturday. In that one, he pitched eight strong innings and outdueled Zack Greinke for his first win this season.

Cubs starter Edwin Jackson (6-13) lasted just 4 2-3 innings and allowed five runs. Jackson has lost six of his last seven decisions.

NATIONALS 4, METS 1

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Strasburg bounced back from a poor start to pitch seven efficient innings, Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche each hit a two-run homer, and Washington beat New York to set a franchise record with its 11th consecutive win on the road against one team.

The Mets’ 11 straight losses to Washington in Queens are their most against one club at home. New York dropped 10 in a row to the Braves at Shea Stadium from 1991-92.

Strasburg (9-10) gave up three hits and an unearned run, improving to 2-8 in 13 road starts this season. He struck out eight and walked two.

Rafael Soriano was perfect in the ninth for his second straight save in the series and 28th overall. Washington finished a three-game sweep and increased its NL East lead to six games over Atlanta.

LaRoche and Harper both connected after walks by Dillon Gee (4-5).

The Nationals are 25-4 at Citi Field since Sept. 12, 2011.

CARDINALS 4, PADRES 3

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jon Jay delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning and right fielder Shane Robinson threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the ninth to help St. Louis hold off San Diego.

Jhonny Peralta hit an early two-run homer for the Cardinals, who moved into second place in the NL Central. St. Louis remained two games behind division-leading Milwaukee.

San Diego had its five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 16-9 since the All-Star break.

Trailing by two in the ninth, the Padres loaded the bases with one out against closer Trevor Rosenthal. Pinch-hitter Jake Goebbert came through with an RBI single to right, but Alexi Amarista was cut down at home when he tried to score from second.

The replay review lasted 4 minutes, 9 seconds. Padres manager Bud Black then was ejected for continuing to argue the call.

After a four-pitch walk to Will Venable loaded the bases again, Rosenthal struck out Tommy Medica for his 36th save.

Seth Maness (4-2) earned the win with one spotless inning of relief. Alex Torres (1-1) took the loss.

ROCKIES 7, REDS 3

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Culberson hit his first homer in more than a month — a three-run shot in the fifth — and Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven effective innings to lift Colorado over Cincinnati.

De La Rosa (12-8) allowed three runs and five hits. He improved to 8-2 at Coors Field this season. The lefty has gone at least six innings in 10 straight starts.

Reds All-Star Alfredo Simon (12-8) is winless in six starts since the break. He allowed seven runs — five earned — and a season-high 10 hits in five innings.

Ryan Ludwick homered and hit an RBI double for Cincinnati.

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez will have season-ending surgery on his left knee Monday.

MARLINS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4, 10 INNINGS

MIAMI (AP) — Marcell Ozuna doubled home Garrett Jones in the 10th inning to give Miami a victory over Arizona.

Ozuna’s line drive to left-center came off Bradin Hagens (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Hagens got a double play to escape the ninth, but Jones reached on a leadoff walk in the 10th and scored two batters later.

Mike Dunn (10-5) pitched two perfect innings for Miami and became the first reliever to reach double digits in wins since Matt Belisle for Colorado in 2011, according to STATS.

Mark Trumbo had a pair of RBI singles for the Diamondbacks.

Giancarlo Stanton had three hits for Miami. Brad Penny, pitching at home for the Marlins for the first time in more than 10 years, allowed five hits and four runs in five-plus innings.

RED SOX 9, ASTROS 4BOSTON (AP) — Dustin Pedroia’s two-run double capped a seven-run sixth inning that sent Boston past Houston for its fourth straight win.

Pedroia finished with three hits, Daniel Nava had two doubles and David Ortiz added two singles as the Red Sox improved to 8-0 at Fenway Park against the Astros.

Matt Dominguez hit a two-run homer for Houston, which opened a 10-game road trip with its fourth loss in five games.

Allen Webster (3-1) gave up four runs — three earned — and five hits in six innings for Boston.

Trailing 4-1, the Red Sox chased starter Scott Feldman (6-9) during their biggest inning of the season.

RAYS 6, RANGERS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Evan Longoria homered and drove in three runs, and Jake Odorizzi helped extend Tampa Bay’s impressive road pitching streak with seven strong innings against Texas.

Longoria’s team-leading 15th homer was a two-run shot that gave the Rays a 6-2 lead in the fifth. Logan Forsythe had a two-run homer to put the Rays in front to stay in the second.

Odorizzi (9-9) struck out seven to help give the Rays their AL-record 18th consecutive road game without allowing more than three runs.

Robbie Ross (2-5) came up from Triple-A to fill in for Texas ace Yu Darvish, who is sidelined with elbow inflammation. The left-hander gave up six runs in 4 1-3 innings.

Jake McGee pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.

in 14 chances.