MLB: Kansas City 7, Oakland 4

OAKLAND, Calif., May 17 (UPI) -- Paul Phillips drove in two runs Thursday as Kansas City topped Oakland 7-4.

Estaban German, Mark Teahen, Mike Sweeney and Emil Brown each had one RBI, and a run scored on a wild pitch by Oakland starter and loser Dallas Braden. Teahen, Sweeney and Mark Grudzielanek all had two hits for the Royals, who have won four of their last five games.

Winner Scott Elarton (1-0) yielded four earned runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Joakim Soria finished the ninth with two strikeouts for his eighth save of the season.

Oakland's Bobby Crosby hit a solo homer and an RBI single. Mark Ellis and Travis Buck had one RBI each, and Ellis had three hits for the Athletics, who have lost three of four.

Braden (1-3) allowed five earned runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.