Oakland, Calif. ? Sometimes storybook moments don’t play out like they’re supposed to.

Just ask Dan Meyer, who took the mound for his first start in the major leagues with the home crowd behind him and no doubt a healthy dose of adrenaline running through his veins.

But before many fans at McAfee Coliseum had located their seats, Meyer’s night was already beginning to unravel.

A’s right fielder Jack Cust dropped a harmless fly ball on the first ball put in play, igniting a four-run first inning for the Kansas City Royals en route to a 9-2 victory over the A’s on Friday night.

Had that routine play been made, perhaps Meyer’s fortunes would have played out differently. But he exited after just four innings, having labored through 93 pitches. He allowed five hits and six runs, though just three of those were earned, walked two and struck out none.