Nicky Lopez leads Royals in blowing out Dodgers

Brady Singer hurled seven solid innings and Nicky Lopez drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals drubbed the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-1, for their first series win since mid-May.

The Dodgers had baserunners in each of the first six innings against Singer (5-7) but were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Matching a season high with seven innings, Singer allowed one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts to collect his first win since June 4.

In the fourth, Lopez broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run hit-and-run double, then scored with one out as Bobby Witt Jr. guided a soft grounder through the drawn-in infield, opening a 4-1 advantage.

After MJ Melendez and Drew Waters hit consecutive one-out doubles in the fifth, Lopez slapped an RBI single to center. Witt added a sacrifice fly as the Royals batted around for a 7-1 lead.

In the sixth, a fielder's choice grounder gave Lopez his fourth RBI, matching a career best, and Maikel Garcia lined an RBI single to right, capping the scoring. Garcia set a career high with four singles and has nine hits in the past three games.

Garcia opened the scoring in the second, slashing a two-out single to center for a 1-0 lead.

Miguel Vargas' fourth-inning sacrifice fly tied the game.

In 3 2/3 innings, Los Angeles starter Tony Gonsolin (4-3) allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

David Peralta had three of the Dodgers' six hits.

Combined with Daniel Lynch's win on Saturday evening, they were the first back-to-back wins by Royals starting pitchers this year as Kansas City won their first series since taking 2-of-3 from San Diego May 15-17.

The Royals finished the homestand 3-3 and will begin a seven-game road trip Monday evening in Minnesota.

Los Angeles completed a 3-3 road trip and will open a six game homestand Monday against Pittsburgh.