By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, August 14, 2014

It’s too soon to tell if this is a potential playoff matchup, but if the red-hot Kansas City Royals should meet the Oakland Athletics again, it could be a most entertaining series.

On Thursday, the Royals won the 18th of their last 22 games, defeating the visiting A’s 7-3 in Kansas City and surging into first place by ½ game over Detroit in the American League Central.

The Athletics, meanwhile, still hold a 2-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and a 7.5-game edge over Seattle in the AL West.

Kansas City is 12 games over .500 for the first time since July 2003. The Royals took the season series from Oakland 5 games to 2.

Jarrod Dyson drove in the game-tying run to cap a five-run Royals seventh, while Nori Aoki and Billy Butler each drove in a pair of runs to put Kansas City ahead to stay.

Alberto Callaspo drove in two of Oakland’s runs with a single and a sacrifice fly.

Aaron Crow (6-1) picked up the win in relief, while A’s starter Jeff Samardzija (3-2) took the loss. Greg Holland racked up save No. 36 for Kansas City.

A’s ACORNS: Oakland SS Jed Lowrie was placed on the disabled list after the game because of a broken right index finger. To replace Lowrie, the Athletics recalled INF Andy Parrino from Triple-A Sacramento. … RHP Jason Hammel will start for Oakland Friday in the opening game of a three-game set at Atlanta. Oakland last played in Atlanta in 2008. … Kansas City plays its next nine games on the road against three last-place clubs – Minnesota, Colorado and Texas.