Sean Murphy belted a three-run home run and Seth Brown had a solo shot to lift the host Oakland Athletics to 4-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Murphy and Brown each had three hits to help Jared Koenig (1-2) record his first major league win. The 28-year-old left-hander scattered two hits and worked around four walks in 5 2/3 innings to emerge victorious in his third career start.

Brown scored two runs and Luis Barrera added two hits for the Athletics, who posted just their fourth win in their last 22 games.

MJ Melendez had two of the three hits for the Royals, who failed in their bid to extend their winning streak to a season-high four games.

Brown sent a 1-2 slider from Brady Singer (3-2) over the wall in left field to open the scoring with two outs in the first inning. Brown’s homer was his ninth of the season and fourth in his last nine games.

Koenig breezed through the first five innings before the Royals loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Koenig induced Melendez to fly out before being relieved by Domingo Acevedo, who struck out Michael A. Taylor to preserve Oakland’s 1-0 lead.

The Athletics extended their advantage in the bottom of the sixth.

Brown singled and Ramon Laureano was hit by a pitch from Singer before Murphy deposited a 2-1 sinker from Jose Cuas over the wall in left field. Murphy’s homer was his eighth of the season and third in his last eight games.

Acevedo struck out three batters and Zach Jackson retired the side in the eighth before Sam Moll did the same in the ninth.

Oakland appeared to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning after Tony Kemp came around to score on Brown’s single to center field. The Royals challenged the call and the play ultimately was overturned, with the umpires deeming that catcher Salvador Perez applied the tag prior to Kemp crossing the plate.

Murphy led off the fifth inning with a double and advanced to third on a bunt single by Barrera. Murphy, however, was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice.

–Field Level Media