Surprise, Ariz. ? Seth Etherton will need more outings like this if he hopes to earn a spot in Oakland’s rotation.

Etherton struck out six in three innings and allowed just one run on two hits in the Athletics’ 9-8 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

“He’s a command guy and has got to use his off-speed pitches,” A’s manager Ken Macha said.

Emil Brown drove in the winning run for the second straight game as the Royals rallied from a six-run deficit.

Trailing 7-1, Aaron Guiel hit a three-run double in the Royals’ four-run fifth, and Ruben Gotay tied it an inning later with a two-run homer. John Buck, who homered in the second off Etherton, led off the eighth with a double. Brown’s single then drove in pinch-runner Luis Ugeto with the go-ahead run.

Brown, a non-roster outfielder, singled home the winning run in the ninth against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Gotay leads the Royals with three home runs and eight RBIs.

Oakland rookie first baseman Dan Johnson, the MVP of the Pacific Coast League last season, went 3-for-3 with a walk and scored two runs.

Kansas City shortstop Angel Berroa turns a double play over Oakland's Nick Swisher. The Royals defeated the Athletics, 9-8, Friday in Surprise, Ariz.

Royals starter Zack Greinke had his second straight poor outing, lasting only 12/3 innings. He walked four of the 11 batters he faced, allowing three runs — only one earned — and two hits.

Mike MacDougal picked up the victory with 11/3 scoreless innings, while rookie right-hander Byron Embry pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.

Mike Sweeney was a late scratch from the Royals’ lineup because of soreness in his right oblique muscle.

Trainer Nick Swartz said it was not related to the back problems that had landed Sweeney on the disabled list the past two seasons and was not serious.

“It’s mild, mild soreness,” Swartz said. “In a day or so, he can go back out at it again. It’s more precautionary than anything else.”