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Guthrie goes distance, surging Royals sweep Diamondbacks

Aug 8, 2014 - 6:26 AM Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeremy Guthrie tossed a complete game and Alex Gordon hit a two-run home run, as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-2, to finish off a three-game sweep.

Guthrie (8-9) retired the final 19 hitters he faced for his eighth career complete game. He gave up seven hits and struck out four, as the Royals won their fourth straight. They have captured seven of eight to pull within 2 1/2 games of Detroit for first place in the AL Central.

"He settled in and started executing his pitches to a high degree," said Kansas City manager Ned Yost. "Spotted his pitches well and used the plate effectively. It was a great game from him."

Salvador Perez drove in two runs while Norichika Aoki and Alcides Escobar each drove in a run in the win.

Mark Trumbo and Jake Lamb had an RBI apiece for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped five of six. Vidal Nuno (0-3) allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings.

The Diamondbacks took the initial lead in the game as Trumbo lofted a sacrifice fly that scored Ender Inciarte in the first inning, but the Royals took the advantage in the second as Billy Butler led off with a double and Gordon followed with his 10th homer of the year.

"We were swinging the bats good the first three innings. We had a lot of opportunities, but didn't capitalize as good as we could have," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "He shut us down after that."

In the third, Aoki and Omar Infante hit consecutive singles then executed a double steal. Perez followed with a single that plated both runners for a 4-1 lead.

Arizona got one back in the home half on Lamb's RBI single, but that was the last hit the team had in the game.

Lorenzo Cain doubled to start the fourth and came home on Escobar's single for a 5-2 lead.

In the ninth, Aoki singled home Escobar, while Guthrie made short work of Arizona in the home half, striking out Didi Gregorius to end the game.

Game Notes

Guthrie has won his past three starts ... Kansas City hosts San Francisco for three games starting on Friday ... Arizona hosts Colorado for a three-game set starting on Friday ... The Royals were a crisp 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position.