OAKLAND, Calif. — Kansas City Royals first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn sat most of the day, then stepped into the box for one at-bat in a potentially game-changing situation.
O’Hearn delivered the biggest hit of the game and drove in the run that propelled his club to its third straight win.
O’Hearn smacked a pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh inning of a 2-0 win over the Oakland Athletics in the second game of a three-game series in front of an announced 10,936 at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
The Royals (23-41) have now won three consecutive road games for the first time this season. They’ve clinched a series win, and and they can sweep the series with a victory on Sunday afternoon.
Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning, then had to pitch out of trouble to keep the Athletics (22-45) scoreless. Keller (2-8) finished the day having allowed just one hit in seven innings. He struck out a season-high six batters and walked three.
Relief pitchers Jose Cuas (2/3 innings) and Scott Barlow (1 2/3 innings) completed the shutout for Keller. It marked the fifth shutout of the season for the Royals pitching staff.
Royals center fielder Michael A. Taylor tripled and scored on O’Hearn’s double in the seventh. Whit Merrifield had a walk, a hit and an RBI for the Royals.
