The Kansas City Royals opened their longest homestand of the year Monday, Aug. 11 with a pair of two-run home runs in the sixth inning to overtake the Washington Nationals 7-4.

It would be a pair of two-run hone runs that amounted to Washington’s offense.  The Nationals struck in the top of the first, when Josh Bell took Bailey Falter yard on a 1-0 pitch to make the score 2-0.  The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the second with a single from Adam Frazier and sacrifice fly by Nick Loftin.

Washington then hit back in the fifth, with Paul DeJong sending his two-run shot to center field. The Royals would launch their fireworks in the sixth, with Salvador Perez tying the game with a two-run blast with no one out to tie the game. Kyle Isbel gave the Royals the lead for good when with two outs, he drove a two-one pitch over the right field fence. Mike Yastrzemski added a run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Frazier went three-for-four to lead the Royals offense, while Perez and Bobby Witt Jr each claimed two hits.

Falter went four innings in the start, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out five. Despite allowing the second home run, Daniel Lynch IV went two innings and allowed five hits with two walks and a pair of punchouts to pick up the win. Carlos Estévez claimed his 30th save of the year, allowing just a walk in the ninth.

The Royals improve to 59-60, 9.5 games behind Detroit in the NL Central and four games behind the Yankees for the third wild card spot. The series continues Tuesday evening when Michael Wacha gets the start for the Royals. Pregame is at 6 p.m. on KMMO-FM 102.9, with first pitch at 6:40 p.m.