Royals starter Vin Mazzaro improved to 2-0 as he went six innings to help the Royals hold down a lifeless Oakland offense again. The Athletics are hitting .209 on the season and were shutout 2-0 for the second time this series.
Mazzaro got some help from Alex Gordon and Brayan Pena. In the fifth inning, Josh Reddick hit a foul fly ball that Gordon caught near the seats. Adam Rosales tagged up at third, as Gordon let fly. The throw beat Rosales, who tried but failed to jar the ball loose from Pena.
Eric Hosmer homered to center field leading off the second against Milone (6-5). It was Hosmer’s first home run of the season off a left-handed pitcher. The Royals got another run in the fifth when Johnny Giavotella’s single scored Jarrod Dyson, who started the inning with a single and stole second.
Relievers Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland and Jonathan Broxton gave up one hit in one inning each to complete the Royals’ fifth shutout of the year. Broxton got his 13th save in 15 opportunities.