Soler's one-out solo shot, his ninth of the season, came after the A's had rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Chad Pinder.

The homer came off Yusmeiro Petit (2-2), Oakland's fourth pitcher, and gave Kansas City the third win in its last four games.

Royals closer Kelvin Herrera retired the A's in order in the ninth to retain the one-run advantage, recording his 13th save of the season and ending Oakland's two-game winning streak.

Left-hander Tim Hill (1-1) was credited with his first major league win, despite having allowed Oakland's game-tying run in his only inning.

Attempting to put the embarrassment of Friday's series-opening, 16-0 drubbing in the rear-view mirror, the Royals scored twice in each of the first two innings against Oakland starter Trevor Cahill.

Salvador Perez's two-run double opened the scoring for the Royals in the first. Alcides Escobar had an RBI triple and Jon Jay a run-scoring double in the two-run second.

Cahill lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Bruce Maxwell spearheaded the Oakland rally, driving in a run in the fourth inning and slamming a solo homer in the seventh, the latter closing the gap to 4-3 off Royals starter Jason Hammel.

The homer was Maxwell's first of the season.

Hammel was pulled at that point, charged with three runs and seven hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out three.

Jay had two hits and Perez two RBIs for the Royals, who had allowed 24 runs in their previous two games.

Maxwell collected two hits and two RBIs, while Jed Lowrie added a pair of hits for the A's, who had won their previous five road games.

The A's out-hit the Royals 9-8.

--Field Level Media