KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)– The Kansas City Royals overcame five ejections to beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 Sunday behind Kendrys Morales’ tiebreaking, two-run double in a three-run eighth inning.
Royals manager Ned Yost and pitching coach Dave Eiland were ejected in the first inning after Lorenzo Cain was hit by a Scott Kazmir pitch and both teams were issued a warning by plate umpire Greg Gibson. After the warning was issued Sunday, Yost came out to argue and was immediately ejected by Gibson.
In the eighth inning, Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera was tossed after throwing behind Brett Lawrie. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu, who was acting as manager after Yost’s ejection, also ejected during the argument along with injured Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar.
Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura was ejected Saturday when he hit Lawrie with a pitch after Josh Reddick’s home run. Dugouts and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.
Lawrie’s hard slide into Escobar injured the left knee of the Kansas City shortstop on Friday and caused benches to clear. Escobar called it a “dirty slide” and did not play Saturday or Sunday. Kansas City has been hit by 14 pitches.
With Kansas City trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Scott Kazmir walked Paulo Orlando and Cain hit a one-out RBI double off Eric O’Flaherty (0-1). Cain stole third, Eric Hosmer walked and Morales doubled to deep center.
Franklin Morales (1-0) threw two pitches, retiring Brett Lawrie on a popout. With Greg Holland on the disabled list because of a pectoral strain, Wade Davis struck out two in a perfect ninth for his second save.
Kazmir allowed two runs and six hits for 7 1/3 innings.
Ben Zobrist hit run-scoring singles in the third and fifth innings against Danny Duffy.
