Royals 1, Athletics 0: Raul Ibanez homered and Jeremy Guthrie pitched six strong innings as Kansas City defeated host Oakland in the opener of a three-game series.

Ibanez smacked a first-pitch fastball over the fence in right in the fifth for the lone run as the Royals remained four games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. Guthrie (7-9) struck out six and gave up three hits and two walks before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Sonny Gray (12-4) gave up one run and three hits in seven innings but suffered the hard-luck loss as Oakland’s lead in the AL West diminished to one game over the Los Angeles Angels. Gray, who had a six-game winning streak snapped, struck out seven and walked none.

Kansas City reliever Wade Davis struck out two in a scoreless eighth and hasn’t allowed a run in 34 of his last 35 appearances. Greg Holland allowed Josh Reddick’s two-out double in the ninth before striking out Alberto Callaspo for his 30th save to match Seattle’s Fernando Rodney for the American League lead.

Oakland put two runners on the seventh against Kelvin Herrera before Sam Fuld struck out to end the threat. Reddick had three of the Athletics’ five hits.

GAME NOTEBOOK: X-rays revealed that Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer has a fractured right hand and will be sidelined at least three weeks. … Oakland officially released RHP Jim Johnson, who was designated for assignment on July 24. … CF Jarrod Dyson had two of the Royals’ four hits.