Royals 6, Nationals 4: Salvador Perez drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth and added a two-run homer as host Kansas City edged Washington to avoid a three-game sweep.

Alex Gordon chipped in a solo home run and Kelvin Herrera (5-6) picked up the win in relief before Greg Holland worked a scoreless ninth for his 35th save. The Royals put together a two-out rally with a pair of walks and an infield single off Craig Stammen (7-6) in the eighth before Perez grounded into the hole at shortstop to push across the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice.

The win snapped a seven-game slide for Kansas City, which pulled to within seven games of the Oakland Athletics for the second American League wild card spot. The Nationals had a five-game winning streak draw to a close and sit 8 1/2 games behind the Cincinnati Reds in the National League wild card race.

Dan Haren struggled to settle in, and the Royals took advantage with four runs in the first. Gordon led off with a blast to right-center and Eric Hosmer singled in a run before Perez ripped a line drive into the Kansas City bullpen in left-center to cap the rally.

Ian Desmond got Washington on the board with a towering blast to left in the fourth and Denard Span added a solo shot in the seventh before Bryce Harper came up with a runner on first and sent an opposite-field homer to left-center to forge a tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Harper fouled a ball off his left ankle in the sixth and stayed down for over a minute before gingerly getting to his feet and continuing the at-bat. He had a slight limp when rounding the bases after his home run the next inning. … Kansas City recalled LHP Will Smith from Triple-A Omaha and placed RHP Luke Hochevar on paternity leave. … Haren was charged with four runs on eight hits in seven innings while Royals starter Ervin Santana surrendered four runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 frames.