Chad Pinder's two-run single capped a four-run third as the visiting Oakland Athletics defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-2 on Thursday afternoon.

The A's (79-67) claimed the three-game series.

The A's scored three unearned runs in the third. They had seven runners reach base on only two hits. They also scored three runs in the ninth on just one hit.

The Royals (66-80) had the tying runs on base with less than two outs twice in the final four innings but didn't score.

A's starter Paul Blackburn (1-2) earned the win. He gave up two runs on six hits in five innings.

Royals starter Daniel Lynch (4-5) took the loss. He left the game in the third inning with left calf tightness with the bases loaded and a full count. He gave up three runs (one earned) on two hits in two-plus innings.

Salvador Perez homered in the first to give the Royals the early lead. He drove in Nicky Lopez, who reached with a walk to extend his streak to 25 games reaching base successfully.

Perez's 45th homer of the season tied him with Johnny Bench for the most home runs in a season by a player who played at least 75 percent of his team's games at catcher. Perez has the most home runs (24) and RBIs (59) in the majors since the All-Star break. He leads the majors with 112 RBIs.

Perez is now three home runs short of Jorge Soler's team record of 48, set in 2019. Prior to Soler, the Royals never had a player hit more than 38 home runs in a season. Perez also tied Mike Sweeney for second place on the club's all-time list with 197 home runs. George Brett holds the club record with 317.

The A's took a 4-2 lead in the third.

After a walk and a hit batter, Josh Harrison's single drove in Elvis Andrus. Joel Payamps relieved Lynch and got Matt Olson to line into a double play. But a walk again loaded the bases before Jed Lowrie reached on an error that plated a second run. Pinder's two-run single capped the inning.

--Field Level Media