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As explode for 14 runs against Royals, sweep series
spt ap Royals Volquez
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez wipes away sweat after giving up two runs to the Oakland Athletics during the third inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday. - photo by AP Photo

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Stephen Vogt drove in five runs, Ryon Healy hit a mammoth three-run homer and the Oakland Athletics routed the Kansas City Royals 14-5 on Thursday night.
The A’s continued to wreck the Royals’ diminishing playoff chances, sweeping a four-game road series at Kansas City for the first time in their history. The A’s outscored the Royals 43-12, the largest Oakland run differential in a four-game series in franchise history.
Vogt had a two-run double in a five-run third, walked with the bases loaded in the fourth and hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The five RBIs matched a career high.
Healy, who had three hits, homered in the third with Khris Davis and Yonder Alonso on base. The ball traveled an estimated 480 feet, landing above the left-field fountains.
Healy went 9 for 17 (.529) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs in the series. Joey Wendle had his first career four-hit game and scored three runs as the A’s banged out 16 hits. Rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (2-7), who was 0-4 with a 9.39 ERA in his previous seven starts, was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. He held the Royals to three hits over seven scoreless innings to pick up the victory, striking out six with no walks. Royals starter Edinson Volquez (10-11) faced 22 batters and nine scored in 3 1/3 innings. He allowed nine runs and seven hits with four walks. In his past four starts, Volquez has a 9.82 ERA.
Chris Young, the third Royals pitcher, gave up the home run to Vogt and has allowed 28 home runs in 85 innings.
Marcus Semien hit his 25th home run, a three-run shot in the eighth off rookie Brooks Pounders.
Christian Colon hit a three-run homer in a five-run ninth as the Royals avoided being shut out for the second straight game.
The Royals have lost eight of their past nine home games.

VARGAS TO START
Royals LHP Jason Vargas, who has not pitched in the majors since July 21, 2015, and needed reconstructive elbow surgery, will start Saturday against the White Sox. Vargas will be on a 45-pitch limit over three innings. Manager Ned Yost said the goal is for Vargas to pitch 10-15 innings before the season ends. Vargas was 5-2 with a 3.98 ERA in nine starts before the injury last year.

OVERTON RETURNS
The A’s recalled LHP Dillon Overton from Triple-A Nashville and he will be used out of the bullpen. Overton gave up all five runs in the ninth.

TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP Henderson Alvarez will undergo another shoulder surgery Tuesday and won’t pitch this season. Dr. James Andrews will perform arthroscopic surgery. Alvarez was a 2014 All-Star while with the Marlins, but made only four starts last season before needing shoulder surgery on July 28.
Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain, who has appeared in only one September game because of a sore left wrist, probably won’t return this season. “He’s not making great progress,” Yost said. “He’s getting a little bit better, but we’re starting to run out of time.”

UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Kendall Graveman, who is 9-4 with a 3.64 ERA in his past 19 starts, will start the series opener Friday at Texas.
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who is 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA since the start of August, will start Friday against the White Sox.