CINCINNATI (AP) – Lorenzo Cain had a tie-breaking RBI single in the second inning, Ben Zobrist had four hits and Kansas City benefited from a Cincinnati baserunning gaffe as the Royals beat the Reds 4-3 Wednesday night to complete a two-game sweep.
Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie left in the fifth with the 4-3 lead and the bases loaded and one out. Luke Hochevar (1-0) got Jay Bruce to pop up along the first base line. Bruce was out under the infield fly rule, but Jason Bourgeois tried to score when the ball dropped, and Hochevar threw to catcher Drew Butera, who easily tagged Bourgeois out.
Zobrist had his eighth career four-hit game as the Royals completed a sweep of the four-game season series with Cincinnati. The Royals have won five straight and the Reds have lost five straight.
Keyvius Sampson (2-2) gave up the four runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The Reds placed outfielder Billy Hamilton on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained capsule in his right shoulder on Wednesday.
Hamilton was injured while trying to make a diving catch in Tuesday’s 3-1, 13-inning loss to Kansas City.