Royals' Win Streak Ends With 11-3 Loss To A's
ALAN ESKEW, Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals' winning streak ended with a resounding thud.
Jon Lester pitched six strong innings and Josh Donaldson homered twice and drove in four runs as the Oakland Athletics beat Kansas City 11-3 Tuesday night, snapping the Royals' eight-game winning streak.
"We're not going to win every game from here on out. If somebody thinks we were, sorry," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "But we've got to keep these nights few and far between. These games quite frankly are easier to forget than the 3-2, 2-1. You just move on."
Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (8-10) allowed six runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings. Guthrie was not nearly as sharp as he was on Aug. 1 when he held the A's to three hits over six scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory. This lopsided loss may not be so easy for him to remove from his thoughts.
"Maybe it makes it a little easier," Guthrie said. "I'm not absolutely certain. We play 162 of these and you take them for what it's worth. They strung together a bunch of hits and they had a tough pitcher and won the game."
Lester (13-7) has won all three of his start since the A's acquired him July 31 in a deal that sent All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to Boston. Lester struck out nine and allowed three runs, six hits and two walks.
"I'd rather face Cespedes four times in a game than face Lester one game," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "That's just me. That's not taking anything away from Cespedes. He can beat you with one swing of the bat."
The Royals have won 11 of 13 with both losses to Lester, who is 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 13 career starts against Kansas City.
Donaldson homered in the seventh and eighth off left-hander Bruce Chen for his third multi-homer game of the season. He also added an RBI double in the first and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Chen, who had not pitched since Aug. 2, was roughed up for five runs on nine hits in four innings.
Brandon Moss had four hits, matching his career high, as the A's banged out a season-high 20 hits.
Salvador Perez and Lorenzo Cain doubled in the Royals' three-run fifth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: SS Jed Lowrie has a fractured right index finger, which was detected by a MRI Tuesday. He injured it Aug. 4 and it was originally believed to be a bruise as an X-ray showed no break. Lowrie, who played four days with it, is hopeful he can avoid the disabled list, but may need extra days off.
Royals: LHP Scott Downs went on the DL with a stiff neck.
ON DECK
Athletics: LHP Scott Kazmir goes Wednesday. He has held opposing batters to a major league best .071 average with runners in scoring position and two out.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas has not walked a batter at home in 26 1-3 innings, an intentional pass to Yadier Molina on June 4.
GOOD DEBUT
Josh Willingham drew a standing ovation when he doubled in his first at-bat. The Royals acquired Willingham in a trade Monday with the Twins.
BEHIND EARLY
When the A's jumped out to a 1-0 lead, it was the first time in 44 innings the Royals had trailed, dating to the first inning on Aug. 7 at Arizona.
AOKI'S AUGUST
Nori Aoki went 2 for 4 and drove in a run as the Royals' right fielder is hitting .343 with a home run and nine RBIs in August.
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