The Royals swept Friday’s doubleheader against the A’s, but dropped the final two games, giving Oakland a series split at Kauffman Stadium. The A’s jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings en route to a 6-4 win.
Kansas City had its chances to put runs on the board. They sprinkled 11 hits off starter Kirk Saarloos but only managed to score two runs. Saarloos used some crafty pitching to enduce several double plays, escaping from some dangerous situations. He earned his sixth win of the year going six innings allowing 11 hits and two runs.
The A’s opened the game with three runs in the first inning. After Mark Kotsay, Milton Bradley and Frank Thomas reached base, Eric Chavez hit a sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game. The next batter, Jay Payton, lined a double to center scoring Bradley and Thomas. Oakland added another run in the second inning to make it 4-0.
The Royals remained scoreless until the fourth inning when they scored a single run. Kansas City trailed 6-2 going into the final inning and was able to make a run at the game. Mark Grudzielanek’s two-out, two-run, inside-the-park homer brought the Royals within two. But reliever Justin Duchscherer got Mark Teahen to ground out and end the game.
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