A’s batter Jeremy Guthrie and Bruce Chen

The A’s battered Kansas City Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie for 6 runs (4 earned) in 4.2 innings on their way to an 11-3 victory over KC at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday night.

Oakland continued the beating against reliever Bruce Chen, hanging 5 runs on him in 4 innings of work. 3B Josh Donaldson led the way with 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s.

The loss dropped Kansas City to 10 games over .500 at 64-54. The Royals retained their 1/2 game margin in the AL Central since Detroit also lost to Pittsburg. Seattle also closed to within a /1/2 game of the Royals for the A.L.’s 2nd wild card.

On the Mound

It was a rough night for starter Jeremy Guthrie, who gave up 11 hits, 0 walks, and 6 runs (4 earned) with 4 strikeouts. Guthrie lost his 10th game of the season against 8 victories.

Aaron Crow retired the only hitter he faced to finish the 5th inning.

Bruce Chen entered in the 6th inning and finished out the game. Chen pitched 4.0 innings, giving up 9 hits, both Josh Donaldson home runs, and 5 earned runs. Overall, Oakland battered KC pitching for 20 hits.

At the Plate

The Royals only managed 7 hits, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs against the A’s pitching staff.  All 3 runs came against Oakland starter Jon Lester in the 5th inning that temporarily made the score 6-3.

Kansas City bunched 3 hits and a walk in the inning, including 2 doubles. Mike Moustakas walked to start the inning, followed by a double by Lorenzo Cain. Cain finished 1-4 on the day.

Alcides Escobar followed with a sacrifice fly that drove in Moustakas. Nori Aoki then added an infield single that scored Cain. Aoki was the only Royal with more than one hit, finishing 2-4 with 2 singles, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI.

After Omar Infante grounded out, Salvador Perez drove in Aoki with a double to deep left.

This and That

The Royals lost their first game since Sung Woo Lee arrived last Tuesday. The team is 7-1 since that day.

Josh WIllingham got his first start for the Royals at DH. He also doubled in his first at bat in a Kansas City uniform. Willingham finished 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

While the Royals got stomped 11-3, Nori Aoki and Omar Infante turned in nice defensive plays. Aoki made a leaping grab in the 9th against the wall to rob Oakland 1B Steve Vogt of an extra-base hit. Omar Infante made a nice barehanded play to retire Eric Sogard in the 6th. Lorenzo Cain also nailed Josh Donaldson at home plate for an outfield assist in the 1st.

Jon Lester has won all 3 of his starts since coming to Oakland for Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline. Two of Lester’s 3 wins have come against Kansas City, and are the only two games the Royals have lost in their last 10 games—sandwiching KC’s 8-game win streak.

Jon Lester is apparently immune to the Sung Woo Lee affect.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Well, I guess I have to pick someone. I’m going with Nori Aoki for his 2 hits, 1 RBI and nice catch in right field.

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• Billy Butler – 8
• Jason Frasor
• Francisley Bueno
• Danny Valencia
• Christian Colon
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 6
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki  – 4
• Salvador Perez – 6
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 3
• Jason Vargas – 6
• Alex Gordon – 11
• Bruce Chen   – 5
• James Shields – 10
• Yordano Ventura – 5
• Danny Duffy – 7
• Omar Infante – 4
• Mike Moustakas – 9
• Alcides Escobar – 6
• Eric Hosmer – 12
• Michael Mariot

The A’s

Josh Donaldson was the big dog, going 3-4 with a single, 2 home runs (25), 3 runs scored, and 4 RBI’s. LF Brandon Moss chipped in with a 4-hit game, going 4 for 5 with 3 singles, 1 double and 2 RBI’s.

Up Next

The A’s and Royals play the 3rd game of their series Wednesday night. Jason Vargas (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will pitch for Kansas City against Scott Kazmir (13-4, 2.73 ERA) for Oakland. Game time is 7:10 PM CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: B Moss (19, off J Guthrie); A Callaspo (13, off B Chen).
HR: J Donaldson 2 (25, 2 off B Chen, 7th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF-CF; 8th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep LF-CF).
SF: J Donaldson (4, off J Guthrie); J Gomes (6, off B Chen).
TB: J Donaldson 9; B Moss 5; A Callaspo 3; S Fuld 3; J Reddick 3; S Vogt 2; J Jaso 2; E Sogard.
GIDP: A Callaspo (16); E Sogard (5).
RBI: J Donaldson 4 (84); B Moss 2 (76); E Sogard 2 (16); S Vogt (29); J Gomes (35).
2-out RBI: J Donaldson 2; S Vogt; B Moss.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 5 for 13.
Fielding
DP: 1. J Donaldson-A Callaspo-S Vogt.
E: E Sogard (5).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: J Willingham (6, off J Lester); L Cain (22, off J Lester); S Perez (19, off J Lester).
SF: A Escobar (3, off J Lester).
TB: J Willingham 2; S Perez 2; N Aoki 2; L Cain 2; A Gordon; B Butler.
GIDP: J Willingham (3).
RBI: A Escobar (37); N Aoki (26); S Perez (49).
2-out RBI: S Perez.
Team LOB: 5.
With RISP: 2 for 6.
Fielding
DP: 2. A Escobar-B Butler; O Infante-A Escobar-B Butler.
E: A Escobar (11).
Outfield Assists: L Cain (J Donaldson at home plate).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.