Marcus Semien hit a three-run triple in the second inning and a three-run home run in the third to help the Oakland A's defeat the host Kansas City Royals 19-4 Monday.

Semien added a run-scoring grounder in the eighth to finish with a career-high seven RBIs.

The A's scored in eight straight innings, including five runs each in the second and third innings. Oakland got four hits from Josh Phegley and three hits apiece from Mark Canha, Matt Olson and Khris Davis in a 22-hit attack.

Former Royal Homer Bailey (12-8) picked up the win in the first appearance against Kansas City during his 13-year career. The Cincinnati Reds, for whom Bailey spent the first 12 years of his career, are the only major league club he has not faced.

Bailey allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk.

Brad Keller (7-14) gave up five runs on three hits, plus a critical three walks, in 1 1/3 innings. Keller, who fanned one, is tied with Aaron Sanchez of the Houston Astros for the major league lead in losses.

It was bad enough that two position players pitched the last three innings for the Royals. Alex Gordon made the first pitching appearance of his 13-year career, giving up three runs in 1 1/3 innings, before Humberto Arteaga allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings.

The A's started slowly in the second. After Olson struck out, Canha dribbled a hit up the middle and Seth Brown dropped one into left in his first major league plate appearance. Davis then walked before Jurickson Profar and Phegley drew bases-loaded walks.

When Semien lined one to the wall in right-center, the A's led 5-0 and Keller's night was over after just 43 pitches.

The Royals scored two in the bottom of the second. Bubba Starling planted a two-out single into center before Brett Phillips hooked one inside the right field foul pole for his first home run.

The A's picked up where they left off in the third, with three consecutive singles netting the sixth run on Brown's first RBI. Oakland added another run on a Phegley infield single that fell between the pitcher and catcher prior to Semien's 425-foot homer.

The A's got a run in the fourth, three more in the fifth, single runs in the sixth and seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth. The Royals got runs in the fifth and the ninth.

--Field Level Media