Kansas City, Mo ? Mike Cameron came up just inches short.

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer just beyond Cameron’s reach in the 10th inning Sunday, giving Kansas City a 7-5 victory over Seattle.

One day after Beltran robbed Dan Wilson of a home run with a spectacular, leaping catch at the 12-foot fence in center, Cameron had a chance to turn the tables. But he barely missed, the ball grazing his glove as Beltran’s drive carried over the wall.

“I had two very good nights in a row. It feels great,” Beltran said.

“As soon as I hit the ball, I never thought it was going to be out of the ballpark. But when I saw Cameron going back and feeling for the wall, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ve got a chance.’ I saw the ball hit his glove and went over. I was very happy.”

Cameron thought he had it at first.

“I just ran out of real estate,” he said. “It just tipped my glove, and that’s all I had. I tried to squeeze it and hold onto it, but coming back, it must have popped out.”

Despite blowing a 5-3 lead in the ninth, the Royals took three of four in a series between first-place teams — their first four-game series victory over Seattle in nearly 11 years. The AL Central leaders improved to 54-42, their best record at this point since 1989.

Julius Matos singled with one out in the 10th against Arthur Rhodes (2-2), and Beltran connected on an 0-2 pitch for his first career game-winning homer and 13th of the season.

Kris Wilson (5-0) entered with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the 10th after Jason Grimsley was ejected for hitting Ichiro Suzuki on an 0-2 pitch. Wilson retired Jeff Cirillo and Cameron to get out of the jam and keep the score tied.

“I knew I had two good hitters and I’d have to make two good pitches,” Wilson said. “We’ve been finding ways to win games. It would have been a terrible game to lose.”

Royals rookie Mike MacDougal, the All-Star closer who gave up a go-ahead grand slam to Suzuki in the ninth inning Friday night, started the ninth by allowing a leadoff homer to John Mabry that made it 5-4.

Kansas City shortstop Angel Berroa, top, tags out Seattle's Randy Winn on a steal attempt. The Royals won, 7-5 in 10 innings, Sunday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

With one out, MacDougal walked Dan Wilson and Cameron before he was replaced by D.J. Carrasco.

Following a wild pitch that put the tying run on third, Mark McLemore hit a high popup that dropped when second baseman Carlos Febles lost it in the sun. The RBI single made it 5-5.

Cameron went to third on another wild pitch, but Bret Boone struck out and Edgar Martinez tapped back to the mound.

“We had our opportunities,” Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s a tough game to lose, but there were some good signs in it as well.”

Suzuki, who stayed in the game after he was plunked, had his left calf bandaged afterward. Melvin said he would probably play Monday.

Runelvys Hernandez pitched 5 2-3 shutout innings to help the Royals take a 5-0 lead.

Hernandez, who started the season 4-0 with a 1.36 ERA before going on the disabled list, gave up four singles, walked two and struck out two.

¢ 6News video: Royals win on Beltran’s blast

He went on the disabled list May 27 with inflammation in his right elbow, but has pitched well in both starts since rejoining the rotation.

Jamie Moyer allowed five runs, five hits and two walks in 5 1-3 innings for the Mariners.

The temperature at gametime was a steamy 96 degrees, the hottest of any Kansas City home game this season. By the seventh inning, it had risen to 98.

Ken Harvey, breaking an 0-for-24 skid against Seattle pitching, hit an RBI double and scored on Angel Berroa’s sacrifice fly to give Kansas City a 5-0 lead in the sixth. Beltran walked leading off the inning and scored on a double by Raul Ibanez.

Desi Relaford had an RBI single in the third. Mike DiFelice doubled leading off the fifth and scored on Aaron Guiel’s sacrifice fly.

Dan Wilson hit a two-run homer off Nate Field in the seventh. John Olerud’s sacrifice fly off Sean Lowe made it 5-3 in the eighth.

Notes: MacDougal had converted 10 straight save opportunities before blowing his last two. … Hernandez’s ERA dropped from 3.05 to 2.79. … Beltran has stolen 25 straight bases without getting caught. … After winning their first 17 day games, the Mariners have lost six of their last seven. … When Michael Tucker bunted up the first-base line in the sixth, Moyer did not throw him out, he rolled him out. As Tucker streaked toward first, Moyer caught up with the ball as it bounced alongside the runner. He didn’t have time to pick up the ball, so he just slapped at it with his glove and rolled it to first baseman Olerud just ahead of the runner.