Kansas City, Mo. ? First, they sweep the New York Yankees. Now, they’ve swept the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What gives with these supposedly lowly Kansas City Royals? Three weeks ago, they were on track to lose more than 110 games. But since Buddy Bell became their manager, they’ve won 11 of 15, including a 9-6 defeat of Los Angeles on Thursday night that gave them a three-game sweep of the Dodgers.

The victory also gave them the distinction of being the only team to have three-game sweeps of the Yankees and Dodgers in one year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Of course, interleague play didn’t begin until 1997.

“I’m not going to try to figure it out because when we figure it out, it might end,” Royals outfielder Emil Brown said. “I’m not going to try to figure it out. We’re going to keep rolling with it.”

The Kansas City Royals celebrate their victory over Los Angeles. The Royals, who have won 11 of 15, beat the Dodgers, 9-6, Thursday in Kansas City, Mo., to complete a three-game sweep.

Alberto Castillo had three RBIs, including a two-run double that keyed a six-run sixth inning, and Mike Wood (3-2) got the victory in relief of starter Zack Greinke.

“Buddy has given us a lot of confidence,” Castillo said. “He says, ‘You guys know how to play the game. You’ve got to prepare yourself to play the game mentally.”‘

Only one of the six runs in the sixth against Derek Lowe (5-7) was earned. With one out in the sixth, David DeJesus and Matt Stairs singled, and Brown reached on shortstop Antonio Perez’s error as DeJesus scored, making it 3-3.

The Dodgers left the bases loaded twice and left 11 runners on base.

“We stranded runners, we didn’t get the job done defensively in the sixth inning and it cost us the ballgame,” manager Jim Tracy said. “Derek Lowe deserved better than he got. I can tell you that.”

• 6Sports video: Royals sweep Dodgers (06-16-05)

After Brown reached in the sixth, Terrence Long singled and was forced at second on Shane Costa’s fielder’s choice grounder that scored Stairs.

As Royals fans who’ve had little to cheer about roared, Mark Teahen hit an RBI single, Castillo hit a two-run double, and Ruben Gotay greeted reliever Frankquelis Osoria with an RBI single.

Until then, Lowe had retired 11 in a row.

“At no point did you think they were going to score six runs,” Lowe said.

L.A. Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe reacts after allowing an RBI single to Kansas City's Shane Costa in the sixth inning. Lowe allowed eight runs - three earned - on nine hits in 52â3 innings Thursday night.

“You’ve got to give them credit. I didn’t see them play earlier this year. But apparently Buddy’s got them playing really good. They put together some good at-bats and they kicked our tails for three games in a row.”

The Royals, who were 13-37 when Bell took over May 31, also won their season-best fifth in a row. They hadn’t done that in almost exactly two years.

“I’m a big part of this team, don’t get me wrong,” said Bell, who keeps trying to deflect the credit.

“I have responsibilities. I know I’m capable of carrying those responsibilities out. But the players win games. Sometimes you’ve just got to stay out of their way, and that’s what I’m doing now.”

The seven hits in the sixth were a season-high for the Royals, who got their ninth run in the seventh on Long’s RBI double. Every Royals starter had a hit.

Greinke, who was coming off the worst start of his career when he gave up 15 hits and 11 earned runs at Arizona, went five innings and was charged with three runs and eight hits.

¢ Notes: According to Elias, the Angels and Seattle Mariners also swept the Yankees and Dodgers in one season since interleague play began, but both were not three-game sweeps. … The Royals got good news when 1B Mike Sweeney was not put on the disabled list. Sweeney was hurt Wednesday when a runner ran into his outstretched arm. He’s day-to-day because of a sore left wrist and elbow, but more tests will be done today.