Royals 6, Mets 2: Lorenzo Cain highlighted a three-run fifth inning with a two-run single and Ervin Santana worked six strong frames as visiting Kansas City cruised in the rubber match of the three-game interleague series.

Mike Moustakas belted a solo homer while Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon also drove in a run apiece for the Royals, who have won 11 of their last 12 contests. Kansas City remained 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the second American League wild-card spot.

Moustakas opened the scoring in the fourth with his 10th blast and the Royals expanded their lead with three runs in the fifth. Pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson scored on a wild pitch by Zack Wheeler and Cain made it 4-0 later in the frame with his single.

Santana (8-6) allowed one run and five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. The right-hander has yielded a total of four earned runs over 28 1/3 innings while going 3-0 in his last four starts.

Wheeler (4-2) surrendered four runs - three earned - on five hits and five walks in five frames as he suffered his first loss in six outings. Eric Young Jr. and John Buck had RBI singles for the Mets, who have lost four of five.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas City C George Kottaras struck out in the ninth inning during his only official at-bat of the game. Kottaras walked in each of his first three plate appearances before being hit by a pitch in the seventh. ... Royals RF David Lough left the game in the middle of the fifth inning with tightness in his quadriceps. ... Kansas City's starting pitchers have allowed three runs or fewer in 12 consecutive contests.