K.C. loses lead, falls to A’s, 8-5

? Ryan Sweeney had a two-run triple and scored the go-ahead run on Adam Kennedy’s bases loaded fielder’s choice grounder in the sixth inning to help the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals, 8-5, on Monday night.

Rajai Davis added two hits and two RBIs for the A’s, who won for only fifth time in their last 13 games.

David DeJesus homered and Alberto Callaspo drove in three runs for the Royals, who played without manager Trey Hillman. Hillman left the team to be with his family following the death of his father-in-law and is expected to miss the entire series with the A’s.

Bench coach John Gibbons served as Kansas City’s interim manager and will do so the remainder of the series. Hillman is expected to rejoin the team later this week.

Oakland trailed, 4-0, after two innings, but scored five runs in the third and added three more in the sixth. In both innings, the A’s got a helping hand from the Royals’ sloppy defense.

Davis singled home Cliff Pennington in the third and right fielder Willie Bloomquist’s throw home skipped past catcher Miguel Olivo, allowing Davis to take second. When starting pitcher Luke Hochevar (6-8) retrieved the ball and appeared to look down at the ground, Davis alertly took third and scored on Kurt Suzuki’s groundout. Two batters later, Sweeney tripled in a pair of runs and Mark Ellis followed with an RBI single to put the A’s up, 5-4.

Andrew Bailey worked the ninth for his 21st save in 25 chances.