Marcus Semien scored a run in the first inning and drove in a run in the second as the Oakland A's defeated the Royals 2-1 Tuesday night in Kansas City.

A night after scoring 19 runs on 22 hits, the A's were limited to just two runs on five hits.

But it was enough.

Since losing the 2014 American League Wild Card, the A's are 11-4 at Kauffman Stadium, outscoring the Royals 111-39. The A's are 19-5 against the AL Central in 2019, outscoring opponents 151-73 in those games.

Mike Fiers (13-3) was the winning pitcher, picking up his 11th straight victory. He allowed one run on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two. Fiers has now pitched at least five innings in 22 straight starts.

Mike Montgomery (3-7) was the hard-luck loser for the Royals. He allowed the two runs (one earned) on five hits through 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three. He has a 2.43 ERA in his last five starts.

Semien, who had a career-high seven RBIs Monday, led off the first with an infield hit. After a two-out error on a grounder by Mark Canha and another infield hit by Khris Davis loaded the bases, a walk to Chad Pinder scored Semien with an unearned run.

Semien drove in the second run in the top of the second. After Josh Phegley doubled off the wall in right, Semien drove him home with a single.

The Royals threatened in the third, getting singles from their first three hitters. But Meibrys Viloria was thrown out at the plate, and the next two batters grounded out and popped out.

The Royals threatened again in the fourth, but Fiers got out of it again without allowing a run.

The Royals finally got to Fiers in the sixth. Hunter Dozier led off with a single. Alex Gordon followed with a double off the wall, scoring Dozier. But the Royals could not advance Gordon beyond second base.

--Field Level Media