Context:

Jacob Lopez led the Athletics to a 4-0 victory over the Royals by pitching six innings of three-hit ball, supported by home runs from Max Muncy and Lawrence Butler. Lopez, who was recently recalled from Triple-A, secured his second major league win with an impressive performance, striking out nine and allowing only one walk. Michael Kelly and Hogan Harris completed the game with strong relief pitching, maintaining the shutout. Max Muncy's home run came after a leadoff walk in the second inning, while Butler's solo shot added to the lead in the seventh. The Royals, struggling with a five-game losing streak at home, were unable to mount any offense against the A's pitching staff.

Dive Deeper:

• Jacob Lopez delivered a standout performance by pitching six innings of three-hit ball against the Royals, striking out nine and walking just one. This marked his second major league win, having been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas after a challenging start to the season.

• Max Muncy contributed to the Athletics' offense with a home run following a leadoff walk in the second inning, providing the team with an early lead. Muncy's homer was his fifth of the season, coming off an 85 mph slider from Kansas City starter Michael Lorenzen.

• Lawrence Butler extended the Athletics' lead with a home run in the seventh inning off reliever Daniel Lynch IV. This additional run solidified the A's commanding position in the game.

• The Athletics' bullpen, featuring Michael Kelly and Hogan Harris, delivered two perfect innings and a solid close, respectively, to maintain the shutout and secure the team's victory.

• Kansas City Royals continued their recent struggles, losing seven of their last eight games and being shut out in two of their last three. The team has been unable to capitalize on their home advantage at Kauffman Stadium, losing 13 of their last 16 games there.

• Athletics managed to overcome their previous slump, where they had lost 13 of 16 games, including a sweep by the Angels. They found some rhythm against the Royals, taking advantage of the opposing team's vulnerabilities.

• The series concludes with a pitching matchup between LHP Jeffrey Springs for the Athletics, who has a 5-5 record and a 4.64 ERA, and LHP Noah Cameron for the Royals, aiming to recover from a poor outing against the Yankees.