BY AVERY OSEN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cole Ragans allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings, Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia homered and the Kansas City Royals beat Oakland 6-2 on Friday night to extend the Athletics losing streak to a season-high six.
Ragans (3-3) walked two and struck out seven, rebounding from a 9-3 loss at the Los Angeles Angels when he allowed seven runs and eight hits. He has three scoreless starts of at least six innings this season.
Chris Stratton and Matt Sauers finished the four-hitter, the ninth time Oakland has been held to four hits or fewer.
Oakland has been outscored 36-6 during its losing streak, which dropped the A’s to 19-28.
“We just need to continue to grind at-bats out and find some offense,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said.
Kansas City went ahead in the first when Salvador Perez hit a two-out, run-scoring infield single. Perez was called out by first base umpire Ryan Additon, but a video review ruled Perez beat the throw from third baseman Brett Harris.
Massey hit a two-run homer off Austin Adams and Maikel Garcia a three-run drive against Brandon Bielak in a five-run sixth.
“We were only up 1-0 going into that inning so that was huge,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Massey gets the homer and things went from there, it was a huge spot in the game.”
Mitch Spence (3-2) gave up one run and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
“I thought he did a nice job tonight,” Kotsay said. “To only give up one run over 4 2/3 innings and throw 75 pitches, that’s a great outing and what was expected. I thought he’d be able to do that.”
Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer off Sauers in the ninth, his 10th this season.
ROSTER MOVES
Oakland activated Bielak, a day after he was acquired from Houston for cash. LHP Hogan Harris was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.
UP NEXT
RHP Ross Stripling (1-7, 4.98 ERA) takes the mound for Oakland on Saturday while Kansas City starts RHP Seth Lugo (6-1, 1.66),
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
