Royals 7, Reds 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Moustakas amassed his second consecutive three-hit game, and Jeremy Guthrie picked up his first home victory of the season as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 Wednesday night.
The Royals improved to 26-14, the club's best record after 40 games.
Guthrie (4-2) threw six scoreless innings before leaving after 94 pitches. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out three. Guthrie was 0-2 with a 6.88 ERA in his first three starts at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals tied a club record with a streak of 24 scoreless innings before reliever Ryan Madson gave up a run in the seventh when second baseman Brandon Phillips (3-for-5) doubled home shortstop Zack Cozart, slicing the Royals' lead to 5-1.
Kansas City also threw 24 consecutive shutout innings June 9-12, 1976.
Reds right-hander Jason Marquis (3-4) lost his third consecutive start, permitting four runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings, inflating his ERA to 6.91.
The Royals manufactured the game's first run in the second inning. First baseman Eric Hosmer led off with a double to right, advanced to second on designated hitter Kendrys Morales' groundout and scored on left fielder Alex Gordon's sacrifice fly.
The Royals padded their lead with a three-run fourth and chased Marquis. Third baseman Moustakas and center fielder Lorenzo Cain opened the inning with singles, and they moved up a Marquis wild pitch. Moustakas scored on a Hosmer fielder's choice when Phillips delayed his throw home.
Morales hit a sacrifice fly and catcher Salvador Perez added an RBI single. Morales ranks second in the American League with 31 RBIs.
Marquis threw 34 pitches in the inning after needing only 30 in the first three innings. It was the second start in a row he failed to pitch beyond 3 2/3 innings.
Reds reliever Ryan Mattheus gave up another run in the fifth but was fortunate it was not more. Right fielder Paulo Orlando was hit by a pitch in to lead off. Shortstop Alcides Escobar and Moustakas singled to load the bases with no outs. Orlando scored when Cain grounded into a double play, making it 5-0.
After Cincinnati got on the board, Kansas City designated hitter Kendrys Morales and left fielder Alex Gordon drove in runs in the eighth off right-hander Raisel Iglesias, the fifth Reds pitcher.
NOTES: Royals backup C Erik Kratz (torn left plantar fascia) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Omaha. ... When Reds C Bryan Pena struck out in the third inning Tuesday, it was his first strikeout since May 3. It ended a streak of 40 whiff-free plate appearances, which was the longest active run in the majors. ... Royals LHP Jason Vargas (flexor strain) will throw a two-inning simulated game Friday. ... Both the Royals and Reds are idle Thursday, but Friday the two clubs start series for state bragging rights. The Reds play the Indians in Cleveland, while the Royals host the St. Louis Cardinals.