KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Shortstop Alcides Escobar's bat complemented the pitching performance of right-hander Joe Blanton.

Escobar drove in four runs, and Blanton threw five reliable innings in the Kansas City Royals' 10-2 victory over the reeling Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Escobar broke the game open with a bases-clearing triple off right-hander Jonathan Broxton in a four-run eighth inning. His four RBIs matched a career best.

"That guy was throwing over 93 (mph), and I was just looking for a fastball again," Escobar said. "He threw me another fastball, and I hit it good. It's a really good game, drive in four and win the game, that's good."

Said Royals manager Ned Yost, "Esky had a great night."

So did Blanton, who was making his first major league start since July 22, 2013. He limited the Brewers to one run and five hits while striking out four and walking none. Right-hander Ryan Madson replaced Blanton (1-0) in the sixth.

"I'm just trying to do whatever helps win games, if that's out of the bullpen or starting or holding it down until guys get back," said Blanton, who was inserted into the rotation with left-handers Jason Vargas and Danny Duffy on the disabled list.

Kansas City center fielder Lorenzo Cain contributed two extra-base hits, drove in a run and walked twice. He is 5-for-12 with two home runs and five RBIs in three games against the Brewers.

Right-hander Mike Fiers (3-7) was charged with the loss, permitting six runs on eight hits, three walks and three wild pitches in five innings.

"We've got to get more from our starters," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "When you get in holes like this, it's not going to be pretty and you're not going to win games."

The Brewers got on the board first with second baseman Scooter Gennett's two-out, second-inning triple, just out of reach of a diving Cain. The hit scored designated hitter Carlos Gomez, who had doubled to the right-center gap.

The Royals answered with three runs in the bottom of the second. The inning included two Fiers wild pitches and a walk to left fielder Alex Gordon that loaded the bases with nobody out.

Right fielder Alex Rios' sacrifice fly tied the score at 1. Second baseman Omar Infante and shortstop Alcides Escobar stroked two-out run-producing singles to put the Royals up 3-1.

Cain, who was drafted by the Brewers in 2004, tripled home third baseman Mike Moustakas in a three-run Kansas City fifth. After first baseman Eric Hosmer walked, Morales' single to right scored Cain and moved Hosmer to third. Gordon's flyout to Parra got Hosmer home, making is 6-1.

"When I got to two strikes, they made a lot of adjustments at the plate," Fiers said. "They put the ball in play and were able to find holes. I have to find a way to finish them off, but you have to give them credit, too."

Left fielder Shane Peterson tripled in the eighth and scored on center fielder Gerardo Parra's groundout for the final Brewers' run.

NOTES: The Royals signed their first-round draft pick, RHP Ashe Russell of Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. He rejected a Texas A&M scholarship to sign. ... CF Carlos Gomez, who missed the previous two games with right leg tightness, was the Brewers' designated hitter Wednesday. ... Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy, who is rehabbing with Triple-A Omaha, threw 65 pitches in 3 2/3 innings Wednesday. He gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits. ... The crowd of 33,420 pushed the Royals' attendance to 1,001,078 after 31 dates. That is the earliest Kansas City surpassed the million mark. ... The Royals' 10 runs were the most since they scored in a game since they beat the Yankees 12-1 on May 15. ... Brewers LHP Jimmy Nelson, who will start Thursday, has never faced the Royals. RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who will oppose Nelson, has pitched only once against the Brewers, beating them April