Jonathan India's two-run double capped a three-run seventh as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the host Kansas City Royals 5-2 Wednesday afternoon in the rubber game of a three-game series.

The Reds trailed 2-0 entering the seventh.

Sonny Gray (2-4) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked just two. Heath Hembree pitched a perfect ninth inning for his fourth save.

Scott Barlow (2-3) took the loss for Kansas City. He relieved Brady Singer in the top of the seventh after Singer allowed a leadoff single to Tucker Barnhart. Barlow allowed hits to the next three batters, giving the Reds the lead.

The Royals wasted scoring opportunities in the first three innings. They had hits in each, including the first two batters in the third. Michael A. Taylor led off with a bloop single and Nicky Lopez singled him over to third. But Whit Merrifield fouled out to first and Taylor was picked off third by catcher Barnhart.

The Royals got their first run in an unusual manner in the fourth. Carlos Santana singled with one out and moved to second on a walk to Ryan O'Hearn. Jorge Soler hit a slow roller to third. Eugenio Suarez retired O'Hearn at second, but India's hand hit O'Hearn's helmet on the throw to first. India was charged with an error as Santana scored.

Taylor then redeemed himself with an RBI single, scoring Soler, to give the Royals a 2-0 lead.

Singer had his best start since late April and left with a 2-0 lead. He wound up charged with one run on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts in six-plus innings.

The Reds' first run scored on an RBI single by Mike Freeman, with the next two coming home on India's two-run double.

Following a rain delay, the Reds added a run in the eighth on a double by Shogo Akiyama, scoring Suarez, and one in the ninth on a two-out RBI single by Tyler Naquin.

The Royals threatened in the bottom of the eighth but left the bases loaded when Hunter Dozier flied out to the warning track.

--Field Level Media