Greinke wins for first time in a month as Royals rout A’s

Greinke wins for first time in a month

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zack Greinke picked up his first victory in nearly a month and Wilson Betemit homered and drove in four runs to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 11-3 on Tuesday night.

Kila Ka’aihue also homered and drove in three runs while Mike Aviles hit a three-run shot. He had three hits and scored three runs and has homered in back-to-back games after going 316 at-bats without a home run.

Betemit, who had three hits, delivered run-producing singles in the first and second and hit a two-run homer in the third.

Ka’aihue homered in the first with Betemit aboard. His single in the second scored Billy Butler.

Kansas City scored all its runs with two outs and in the first three innings. That is the most runs the Royals have scored in a game since beating Houston 15-7 on June 15.

Greinke (9-12), the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner, claimed his first victory since Aug. 17. He pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the first by getting Mark Ellis to ground into an inning ending double play.

Greinke gave up three runs on six hits and four walks in seven innings.

Gio Gonzalez (14-9), who had a 1.75 ERA in winning his previous five starts, faced 16 batters, 10 reached base on seven hits and three walks and seven scored before he was replaced by Boof Bonser in the third. Bonser gave up two home runs in the third.

The A’s scored all their runs in the sixth with Landon Powell and Jack Cust singling in runs. The other run scored on an Aki Iwamura ground out.

Notes: A’s manager Bob Geren said Vin Mazzaro, who made 18 starts earlier this season and was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Sacramento, will be used as a reliever. LHP Bobby Cramer, who won his big league debut Monday, will remain the rotation. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff missed his eighth straight game with back problems. “He made a small improvement today,” Geren said. “He hasn’t done any hitting yet and he hasn’t thrown the long ball yet. He still has some work to do.” Royals DH Billy Butler singled in the second to extend his club record to hitting in 98 consecutive series. A’s 2B Eric Sogard singled in the eighth for his first big league hit.