Jorge Soler and Andrew Benintendi homered to help back Mike Minor, and Kansas City snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Oakland Athletics 6-1 on Thursday night.
Minor (5-3) struck out eight and walked one while allowing three hits and one earned run over seven strong innings.
Hunter Dozier hit a tying double in the seventh then Kelvin Gutiérrez followed with a go-ahead, two-run single.
Soler connected for a two-run homer in the eighth and Benintendi added a solo shot that inning as key contributors to an important Royals win after they were outscored 22-5 in a three-game road sweep by the Angels.
SS Adalberto Mondesí, on the IL with a strained left hamstring, continues his baseball activities as he works back from the injury. … LHP Danny Duffy (left forearm flexor strain) threw a side session.
RHP Brady Singer (3-5, 4.88 ERA) pitches for Kansas City in the second matchup of the four-game set Friday night at 8:40.
First place Chicago leads the AL Central by 4 1/2 games over second place Cleveland, the third place Royals are 7 1/2 out.