Nick Ahmed took a healthy swing in the eighth inning, but was a little off on his timing. The ball squirted off the end of his bat, rolling slowly up the first base line.

That gave Christian Walker time to sprint home with the decisive run for Arizona.

It was far from a classic, but these are the kind of games the Diamondbacks have lost for years. Now a few of them – including Monday night’s 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals – are starting to go their way.

Ahmed – who was pinch-hitting – brought home Walker with his one-out roller off reliever Aroldis Chapman (0-1) that was essentially a swinging bunt. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino tried to get Walker at home, but the throw was late.

The NL West-leading D-backs improved to 13-11. The Royals have lost nine of their last 10 and fell to 5-18.

Edward Olivares hit a solo homer in the first to give the Royals an early lead, but the Diamondbacks built a 4-2 advantage by the fourth, scoring two runs in both the second and third off Kansas City starter Brad Keller.

Keller struggled to throw strikes, giving up four runs in four innings on four hits and six walks. He threw 95 pitches.

The Royals cut the D-backs’ lead to 4-3 in the fifth on Perez’s RBI double and then tied the game in the eighth on Kyle Isbel’s RBI single. Pasquantino had a three-hit night while Michael Massey and Perez both had two hits.

UP NEXT

The three-game series continues Tuesday. The Royals will send RHP Brady Singer (1-2, 8.14 ERA) to the mound against RHP Ryne Nelson (1-0, 4.91).