Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Andrew Triggs throws during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Kansas City- The Oakland A’s received another impressive performance from, Andrew Triggs Wednesday night as the A’s downed the Kansas City Royals 8-3. Triggs who drafted by the Royals was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2015. The O’s released him and the A’s claimed him. Triggs won his second game of the year to improve to 2-0.  Triggs went six innings and limited the Royals to jus four hits. Former Athletic, Jason Hammel did not fare well as the A’s touched him for three runs and sent him to the showers after just four and 2/3rds inning of work.

The A’s offense was led by Jed Lowrie. Lowrie drove in three runs, and it was his first three-RBI game since 9/13/15 when he was with the Houston Astros. The A’s scored one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, and four in the sixth.

Ryan Dull pitched a scoreless seventh inning for Oakland. The Royals rocked Liam Hendriks for two runs on three hits in the eighth and Raul Mondesi hit a solo dinger in the ninth off Frankie Montas.

Game Notes- Bob Melvin had this to say about Triggs” performance:””He’s been great,” “There are some pretty good left-handed hitters in that lineup. You expect him to make some of the righties take some bad swings, but he had some lefties taking some bad swings, so he’s off to a great start. Confidence-wise, that’s big for him to get off to this kind of start.” The A’s are now 5-4 for the year, and the Royals drop to 2-6.

The A’s will go for a sweep of the three-game series Thursday night in Kansas City. Jesse Hahn will handle the chores for Oakland. Hahn did well in relief last week in Texas and earned a start. Jason Vargas will go for the Royals. Game time will be at 5:05 pm.