OAKLAND, CALIF. ? Kris Wilson gave the Kansas City Royals exactly what they wanted and needed.

Mike Sweeney and Joe Randa hit home runs, and Wilson combined with three relievers to help the Royals beat Oakland, 3-1, Saturday, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Athletics.

Wilson made his first start in over a year, replacing Runelvys Hernandez, who continues to nurse a sore elbow.

“We asked him for five innings, and he gave it to us,” Royals manager Tony Pena said. “He was a plus. It was nice to see him step in there and take over.”

Wilson (1-0) allowed one run on four hits in five innings. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter in his first start since Sept. 21, 2001. It was his longest outing since he pitched 62¼3 innings at Baltimore Aug. 15, 2001.

“I’ve always felt comfortable starting, but this was a bullpen win,” Wilson said. “We were joking before the game about how we wanted to represent the bullpen. I think we did pretty good. To get to throw five innings made it a lot of fun.”

Sean Lowe, Jason Grimsley and Mike MacDougal combined for shutout relief. MacDougal got his 12th save in 15 opportunities as the Royals won for only the second time in eight games.

“Kris went out there and pounded the strike zone,” said Randa. “That definitely made it easy on the defense. For us to win on three hits is pretty amazing.”

Erubiel Durazo homered for the A’s, who had the best home record in the majors before losing for the third time in four games.

Ted Lilly (3-3) allowed three runs on three hits over 61¼3 innings in his first career appearance against the Royals. He struck out seven and walked three.

Kansas City reliever Mike MacDougal, left, is embraced by teammates after recording a save against the Athletics. The Royals won, 3-1, Saturday in Oakland, Calif.

“It’s frustrating because I didn’t go deep enough into the game,” Lilly said. “Both of those home runs were fastballs down the middle of the plate to a couple of pretty good hitters.”

Sweeney hit his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot with two outs in the first that just cleared the left-field fence inside the foul pole.

“I kind of gave them a little bit of momentum in the first inning,” Lilly said. “I wanted to set the tempo early and let them know early I’m in control. I just didn’t execute a couple of pitches.”

Durazo tied it with his seventh homer of the year leading off the second.

Randa’s seventh homer put the Royals up 2-1 in the third. Michael Tucker added an RBI single in the seventh.

The A’s loaded the bases with one out in the sixth against Lowe on two walks and an error, but Terrence Long flied out to shallow left, and Mark Ellis grounded out to end the threat.

Kansas City first baseman Ken Harvey, left, attempts to tag Oakland's Eric Chavez after leaping for a high throw from pitcher Kris Wilson. Chavez was safe on the play Saturday at Oakland, Calif.

“We had the big chance in the sixth and couldn’t cash in,” A’s manager Ken Macha said. “It was a little tough on the offensive side.”

The Royals lost eight of nine games to Oakland last year and 23 of the previous 31 games.

“There’s no question we struggled with this club last year,” Pena said. “But we’re going to beat a lot of teams we haven’t beaten before.”

Notes: A’s OF Eric Byrnes extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games with a seventh-inning single. … Sweeney has reached base safely in 26 consecutive games. … Randa played his 56th consecutive errorless game. … Hernandez and RHP Miguel Asencio each threw several pitches off the mound in the bullpen before the game to test sore elbows. … A’s INF Jason Grabowski, who turned 27 on Saturday, was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and C Adam Melhuse was recalled. A’s LHP Micah Bowie was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left elbow. RHP Aaron Harang was recalled from Sacramento. … The Royals improved to 11-4 against left-handed starting pitchers.