Phoenix ? Pinch-hitter Adam Melhuse hit a three-run homer on the first pitch after Eric Chavez was ejected, but Oakland lost Monday, 5-3, against Kansas City.

Chavez was ejected by plate umpire Bill Welke in the sixth inning after questioning a pitch that made it 1-2.

“I told him I thought the pitch was outside and he said ‘Of course you did, a lefty threw it,'” Chavez said. “Then I said a few things and got run. I’ve never been thrown out before. I don’t argue balls and strikes, but he just pinched a nerve.”

Melhuse replaced Chavez and hit the first pitch he saw from Scott Mullen over the left field fence.

“That was awesome,” A’s starter Mark Mulder said. “Just when you think you’ve seen it all. To come up in that situation and hit a three-run homer? Come on.”

Angel Berroa hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to lead Kansas City. Miguel Asencio continued to establish himself this spring with five shutout innings to lower his ERA to 1.23 as the Royals won for the fifth time in six games.

“Guys just hit the ball at somebody,” said Asencio, who allowed four hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. “I threw a lot of first-pitch strikes.”

Jason Grimsley got the win after pitching a scoreless seventh. Mike MacDougal pitched the ninth for his second save.

Mulder took the loss after going 71¼3 innings and giving up four runs on 11 hits. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.

“I don’t care about the runs, that was by far the best I’ve felt this spring,” said Mulder, who threw four shutout innings before giving up three runs in the fifth. “Every start I’ve felt better and better. I’m ready to go.”

In the eighth, Juan Brito singled with one out to end Mulder’s day. Rontrez Johnson singled off Jeremy Fikac and Berroa followed with his double.

Joe Randa, Mike Sweeney and Ken Harvey also drove in runs for the Royals.

Scott Hatteberg had three hits for the A’s.

A’s OF Eric Byrnes left the game with a cut on the top of the nose in the seventh inning after his glasses broke while he tried to make a diving catch on Michael Tucker’s fly ball, which turned into a triple.

“I wish I would have made the play,” said Byrnes. “I just missed it. I wanted to stay out there but my glasses broke into 15 pieces.”