Singer sharp, Royals offense pours it on to sweep A’s

An 8-4 Royals victory gives them their third straight.

The Royals put up four runs in the sixth, including three off a bases-loaded triple by Vinnie Pasquantino, and Brady Singer was sharp over six innings in an 8-4 win over the Athletics for the series sweep.

Maikel Garcia jumped on the first pitch from A’s starter J.P. Sears and smacked it for a double. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled him home to put the Royals on the board, and then scored when Salvador Perez scorched a line drive for an RBI single.

Brady Singer didn’t allow a hit until the fourth when Brent Rooker singled and scored on a Tyler Soderstrom double. The A’s loaded the bases the next inning, but Singer showed good poise in getting Rooker to ground out to end the threat without any runs scoring.

The Royals would make the A’s pay for not capitalizing by piling on a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Michael Massey led off with a walk, then advanced to second on a bunt by Garrett Hampson. Maikel Garcia doubled him home, then stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bobby Witt Jr.

Singer escaped another jam in the sixth, working around two singles. He would exit after six innings with just one run allowed on six hits and one walk with nine strikeouts. Of his 89 pitches, 62 were for strikes, and he had 11 swings-and-misses.

The Royals poured it on in the seventh off reliever Tyler Ferguson, quickly loading the bases. Vinnie Pasquantino unloaded them with a pinch-hit three-run triple. Pinch-runner Kyle Isbel came home on a ground out by Garcia, making it 8-1 Royals.

Will Smith and Nick Anderson each tossed a scoreless frame, but Matt Sauer gave up a three-run home run to Brent Rooker in the ninth to make it 8-4.

The Royals earn their first series sweep since April 9-11 against the Astros and improve to 29-19. The Tigers come to town for a three-game set with Michael Wacha scheduled to face Reese Olson on Monday evening.