Royals hold off Athletics for 9-5 victory in series opener

The Kansas City Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics 9-5 on August 17, 2026, in the first game of a four-game series. Oakland took an early 1-0 lead with Jeff McNeil's leadoff home run but struggled defensively, particularly from starter Mason Barnett, who allowed six runs in 2 ⅔ innings. The A's attempted a comeback with homers from Tommy White and Brian Serven, cutting the lead to one run but ultimately fell short. Kansas City scored insurance runs late, maintaining their lead through the ninth inning.

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