Whether they’re being serious or entirely tongue-in-cheek, the Cincinnati Reds have begun calling themselves “America’s Team.”

A few more series like they had in Kansas City and that moniker might expand beyond the clubhouse.

The Reds pounded out four homers Wednesday night, including three during a five-run fifth inning, and held on for a 7-4 victory over the Royals that not only completed the three-game sweep but extended their winning streak to five straight.

Ben Lively (4-4) ended a rough stretch for Cincinnati starters, allowing 10 hits but just two runs over 5 2/3 innings. Alexis Diaz entered with two on and one out in the ninth and struck out Freddy Fermin and retired Dairon Blanco for his 17th save.

The Royals’ Daniel Lynch (0-3) gave up all four Reds homers, the most he’s allowed in an outing in his career. That led to all seven of their runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, extending Lynch’s winless streak stretched to 15 starts.

The Royals, who at 18-50 have the worst record in the majors, have lost a season-high nine straight games.

Steer set the tone for the Reds in the second when he deposited Lynch’s 1-1 pitch in the left-field seats, though the Royals at least answered that homer. Bobby Witt Jr. drove in a run on his 23rd birthday with one of his three hits on the night.

It turned out to be a costly inning for the Royals, though. Salvador Perez was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Lively and had to be replaced by Maikel Garcia. Perez was diagnosed with a bruise and is day-to-day.

The Reds pulled ahead in the fourth when a video review turned a leadoff groundout by McLain into a hit. India followed with a flyball to left field that Edward Oliveras nearly caught but instead fell for a go-ahead RBI double.

But it was the deep ball that ruined the night for Kansas City.

Fairchild began the Reds’ big fifth inning with his line drive into the left-field bullpen, and McLain made it 6-1 with his soaring three-run shot later in the inning. India capped the five-run frame and gave Cincinnati back-to-back homers for the second time this season when he sent his eighth of the year over the left-field wall.

The Royals got runs back in the sixth, seventh and ninth before Diaz left the bases loaded by closing out the game.

UP NEXT

After a day off, Cincinnati heads to Houston to begin a three-game series Friday night with LHP Andrew Abbott (2-0, 0.00 ERA) on the mound. Kansas City faces the Angels with RHP Brady Singer (4-5, 6.58) getting the nod for Friday night’s opener.