The Kansas City Royals relied on solo home runs to dig themselves out of an early hole and overtake the Los Angeles Angels, avoiding a sweep with a 4-3 win Thursday, Sept. 4 at Kauffman Stadium.

The Angels struck first in the first inning, when they got starter Noah Cameron into trouble with two outs. After a single to Taylor Ward and walk to Jo Adell, Luis Rangifo connected on a one-one pitch to left field. Despite another four hits and four walks over five innings, Cameron kept the Angels to just the three runs while striking out five in the no decision.

The Royals began to chip away at the Angels with home runs of their own, starting with Adam Frazier in the second to right field and Vinnie Pasquantino’s 29th of the season in the fourth, also to right field. Salvador Perez tied the game in the seventh with his fly ball past left field.

The Royals would complete the comeback against a former Kansas Jayhawk, Ryan Zeferjahn. With two outs in the eighth, Bobby Witt Jr delivered on Zeferjahn’s one-one pitch, sending it just over the left-center field fence. Carlos Estévez allowed one hit in the ninth but struck out a pair to secure his 37th save of the year, while Lucas Erceg fanned two in a spotless eighth to record his seventh win this season.

The win avoids a sweep and moves the Royals a half-game closer to Seattle for the third wild-card spot, now two games back. It’s a bunched chase, as Texas is a half-game ahead of the Royals while the Tampa Bay Rays have won their seventh straight game to now pull level with KC. Meanwhile, Cleveland is lurking at just 1.5 games behind the Royals.

The homestand continues Friday for the Royals as the Minnesota Twins prepare to visit. It’ll be the last home series of the regular season against a division foe. Michael Wacha will get the start, with first pitch at 6:40 p.m.