(AP) First, Cam Gallagher focused on drawing a walk when he got the count to 3-0. Then, upon making contact, he thought the ball might hook foul.
It stayed right on line, and the Royals rookie had his first career home run in grand style.
Gallagher hit a grand slam for just his second big league hit, leading Kansas City past the Oakland Athletics 6-2 on Monday night.
Gallagher’s shot into the left-field seats in the sixth inning marked the first grand slam by a Royals rookie since Paulo Orlando connected in the first game of a doubleheader against Tampa Bay on July 7, 2015.
Kansas City’s catchers sure have been handling the daunting role of filling in for injured star Salvador Perez — and it was Perez who helped make sure Gallagher received the souvenir ball for framing and a spot in his trophy case.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” Gallagher said. “When I get back tonight, laying in my hotel bed, I’m going to start thinking about it and it’s going to set in a little bit. It’s definitely nice to get the win tonight. We’re in a playoff push and honestly that’s the most important part.”
Jake Junis (5-2), recalled for his seventh stint with Kansas City this season and a teammate of Gallagher’s for five years now, allowed two runs and four hits in six innings with two strikeouts and no walks. After the grand slam, Junis told good friend Gallagher he would do his part to shut down the A’s.
“I could tell on his 3-1 swing, he took a hack,” Junis said. “He was ready.”
The Royals moved into a second-place tie with the idle Twins, five games back of AL Central-leading Cleveland.
Alcides Escobar singled to load the bases in the sixth, and is 10 for 21 since an 0-for-21 stretch.
Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain robbed Boog Powell of a likely extra-base hit in the third with a great catch crashing into the wall.
Whit Merrifield hit an infield single to begin the game against A’s starter Jharel Cotton (5-10) and then stole his 20th base.
Cotton came off the disabled list July 30 from a right thumb blister and has an 8.71 ERA in four starts since. His winless stretch reached five starts and he is 0-3 since a victory at the White Sox on June 23.
The right-hander was tagged for six runs and eight hits in six innings. He dropped to 1-7 in nine night starts and 2-6 in 10 home outings.
