Royals 2, Athletics 0: Felipe Paulino combined with three relievers on a three-hitter as host Kansas City handed Oakland its ninth consecutive loss.

Paulino (3-1) gave up a leadoff double in the first inning but retired the next eight batters he faced, settling in and holding the Athletics to three hits and three walks. He mowed through another seven straight hitters before passing the ball off to Kelvin Herrera, who pitched a perfect seventh inning.

Greg Holland pitched the eighth to set up Jonathan Broxton, who struck out a pair in the ninth to pick up his 12th save.

The Royals jumped on top for good in the first inning when Yuniesky Betancourt doubled in a run and came in to score on a one-out base hit by Mike Moustakas. Kansas City had the bases loaded with none out in the third but failed to add to its lead.

Oakland's Bartolo Colon (4-6) went seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out three.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas City's eight hits came from eight different players, with CF Jarrod Dyson the lone hitless starter. ... The Royals went 0-for-2 with the bases loaded in the third inning and are 6-for-34 (.176) in such situations on the season. ... Oakland 2B Jemile Weeks had two of his team's three hits and extended his hitting streak to eight games, the longest by an Athletics player this year.