Brad Keller allowed one hit in seven crisp innings to lift Kansas City to a 2-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Jose Cuas retired two batters and allowed a one-out double in the eighth. Scott Barlow set down the final four batters for his eighth save to complete the two-hitter and give the Royals a third consecutive win.
Keller (2-8) was dominant in his first win since May 3. The 22-year-old retired 17 of the first 18 batters he faced and worked around three walks for his first road victory in five starts this season.
Oakland’s only hit off Keller came on Jonah Bride’s two-out double in the sixth just past the outstretched glove of left fielder Andrew Benintendi. After walking Tony Kemp and Seth Brown to load the bases, Keller received a mound visit from pitching coach Cal Eldred then got Ramon Laureano to fly out.
Pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn doubled in in Michael A. Taylor in the seventh to break a scoreless tie and assure Kansas City of its first series win since taking two of three from Colorado in mid-May. Whit Merrifield added an RBI single in the ninth.
The A’s were shut out for the eighth time this season, dropped their eighth straight at home, and fell to a majors-worst 22-45. Oakland has lost 15 of 17.
Taylor tripled off Cole Irvin (2-4) with one out in the seventh when left fielder Brown dove and missed the sinking line drive. After Domingo Acevedo replaced Irvin, O’Hearn followed with a chopper that hit in front of home plate then bounced high over the head of A’s first baseman Christian Bethancourt and went down the line.
Irvin allowed three hits and had six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. He hasn’t won since coming off the Injured List on May 22.
Keller retired the first six until Elvis Andrus walked leading off the third. After Luis Barrera struck out swinging, Bride lined into an unassisted double play at first base.
UP NEXT
Royals RHP Brady Singer (3-1, 4.24 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday. Singer walked five in his last start after issuing four free passes in his previous 35 1/3 innings. Athletics LHP Jared Koenig (0-2, 11.25) is the first Oakland pitcher to lose his first two career starts since Daniel Gossett in 2017. Pregame is at 2:30 p.m., with game time at 3:07. You can hear the broadcast from the Royals’ Radio Network on KMMO AM 1300.