KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Wilson Betemit drove in four runs in support of Zach Greinke, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 11-3 win over the Oakland Athletics Tuesday.
Betemit's two-run homer in the third inning was part of a 12-hit Royals attack that posted all 11 runs in the first three innings.
Kila Ka'aihue also had a two-run homer in the five-run third and Mike Aviles got things started in the first with a three-run blast off Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez (14-9).
The outburst gave Greinke (9-12) the support he needed for his first victory since Aug. 17. The 2009 Cy Young Award honoree held Oakland to three runs on six hits in seven innings.
Oakland loaded the bases in the first inning but did not score their first run until sixth inning when Landon Powell and Jack Cust hit back-to-back RBI singles and Akinori Iwamura drove in another run on a groundout.
