KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Danny Duffy scattered four hits while pitching into the seventh inning, the Royals scratched out three runs off the Rangers’ Yu Darvish, and Kansas City beat Texas 3-1 on Friday night to open their three-game series.

The only run Duffy (6-1) allowed came on Rougned Odor’s homer in the fourth inning. The left-hander struck out four and walked two on a steamy evening where the heat index at first pitch was 108 degrees.

Luke Hochevar wiggled out of Duffy’s jam to end the seventh, Kelvin Herrera pitched a perfect eighth and Wade Davis worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his 21st save.

The victory, one day after the Royals (48-47) visited the White House to celebrate their World Series title, kept them from dropping below .500 for the first time since beating Boston on May 17.

Darvish (2-2) nearly matched Duffy in his third start off the disabled list. He allowed single runs in each of the first three innings, struck out 11 and made only one big mistake — Cheslor Cuthbert’s home run.

Still, it wasn’t good enough to keep the AL West-leading Rangers from losing for the eighth time in nine games. The slide has been marked by poor pitching, inconsistent hitting and a series of devastating injuries — sluggers Prince Fielder and Shin-Soo Choo went on the DL earlier this week.

Without them, the Rangers certainly struggled to create scoring chances Friday night.

Duffy carved through the lineup without allowing a hit the first time through, the only baserunner a walk to Elvis Andrus. He went on to load the bases on a single and hit batter in the third inning, but Duffy calmly struck out Ian Desmond on three pitches to leave them stranded.

His only other trouble came when he put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh, forcing Hochevar in from the bullpen. He got pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland on a liner to preserve a 3-1 lead.

They built it in typical Royals fashion: They scored a run in the first on a single, stolen base, error and groundout then scored again in the second on a walk, stolen base and consecutive singles.

It wasn’t until Cuthbert went deep leading off the third that they made Darvish look fallible.

ROSTER MOVES

The Rangers reinstated LHP Jake Diekman (cut left index finger) from the DL and designated LHP Cesar Ramos for assignment. Diekman last pitched July 5 at Boston.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: Fielder will see neck specialist Dr. Drew Dossett on Monday. The DH/1B is facing the prospect of season-ending neck surgery after an MRI earlier this week revealed a herniated disk near an area that was repaired two years ago. Dossett also performed that procedure.

Royals: CF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) hoped to begin a rehab assignment his weekend, but it has been pushed back to early next week. He’s been on the DL since June 29. “He was pushing it too hard two days ago and just kind of fatigued his leg,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Not a setback by any stretch.”

UP NEXT

Rangers LHP Cole Hamels, who tossed eight sharp innings in a win over the Cubs his last time out, makes his first career start at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday. He faces Royals RHP Yordano Ventura.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — In the span of three innings, the Indians’ Tyler Naquin homered to left field, sent a two-run double down the right-field line and connected on a three-run homer over the center-field wall.

Talk about using all fields.

The rookie outfielder’s career-high six RBI, along with three more homers by teammates and a stellar outing by Carlos Carrasco, led Cleveland to an 11-4 romp over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

“I mean, we talk about it from time to time with young players, it’s fun to watch what they turn into,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He’s a really strong kid and he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”

It’s easy to have confidence when the rest of the lineup is producing, too.

Mike Napoli went deep for the second straight day. Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana also hit home runs. And the seven-run fifth inning that featured Naquin’s second homer basically put the game away.

“This clubhouse helps a lot, the team chemistry, the guys in here,” Naquin said.

Carrasco (7-3) was cruising along by the time Naquin finished his heroics, allowing one hit in six shutout innings — a double by Cheslor Cuthbert in the fourth that he followed with back-to-back strikeouts.

Carrasco walked two in the sixth for his only other baserunners.

Cleveland’s first four homers were off Ian Kennedy (6-8), whose bizarre pitching line included eight strikeouts and only one walk. But it was the ninth straight game Kennedy has served up a homer, and he has allowed 26 of them this season, tied with teammate Chris Young for most in the majors.

Kansas City scored all its runs off reliever Austin Adams in the eighth.

The division-leading Indians, who are 4-5 against the hapless Minnesota Twins this season, improved to 26-8 against the rest of the AL Central. They are 8-5 against the Royals.

For the second day in a row, a first-inning homer — this time by Kipnis, his 16th — gave them instant offense. Naquin added a solo shot in the third before adding a two-run double in the fourth.

Cleveland put away the game with a seven-run fifth inning.

With a heat index of 105 degrees at first pitch, Carrasco coolly sliced up a Kansas City offense that scored seven runs in a single inning in the opener. The right-hander retired 17 of the first 18 batters he faced around his lone single, and he struck out six while throwing just 84 pitches.

He won for the fifth time in six starts and improved to 6-1 in eight starts in Kansas City.

Kennedy wound up allowing seven runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Royals. It was a rare poor start for him at Kauffman Stadium; he entered the game with an AL-best 2.11 ERA at home.

“I guess any time you give up a home run, you try to justify it a little bit,” Kennedy said. “The ball was flying a little bit, but they’re homers. The curveball to Naquin — that’s a second time I’ve given up a home run to a left-hander to left field. You don’t see that very often.”

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

The Royals will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday during a ceremony to honor their World Series title. It will be the fifth president that manager Ned Yost has met: Jimmy Carter and George Bush used to come to Braves games when Yost coached in Atlanta, George W. Bush threw out the first pitch on opening day once, and Bill Clinton greeted the champion Braves at the White House in 1996. “So this will be my fifth president,” Yost said, “which is kind of cool.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LF Alex Gordon got the day off as he continues to battle out of a season-long slump. He’s hitting just .200 through 62 games after signing a $72 million, four-year deal in the offseason. He missed several weeks with a fractured wrist in a collision with 3B Mike Moustakas.

Indians: OF Michael Brantley was expected to have an MRI exam on his ailing right shoulder Wednesday, though the results were not yet available. Brantley experienced a setback while on a rehab assignment.

UP NEXT

The Royals open a three-game set Friday night against Texas. The Indians also have a day off before visiting Baltimore on Friday night.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Danny Salazar has no idea why he seems to handle the Kansas City Royals so easily.

Perhaps it’s because he’s such an aggressive pitcher and they have such an aggressive lineup.

The Indians’ right-hander went right after the Royals in his third outing against them this season, shutting them down into the seventh inning in leading Cleveland to a 7-3 victory.

“They like to swing a lot,” said Salazar (11-3), who tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings against Kansas City in a 7-1 victory in early May, and allowed one run over eight innings in a 6-1 win last month.

“You really have to mix your pitches.”

He did that nicely, striking out seven and walking one over 6 2/3 innings.

“He did a really good job of keeping them off the scoreboard, for the most part,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We really needed that bounce-back win.”

Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer in the first off Brian Flynn (1-1), and Carlos Santana drove in two runs off long reliever Dillon Gee, as the Indians snapped a five-game skid at Kauffman Stadium.

Francisco Lindor added a solo shot in the ninth for Cleveland.

“You’re facing an All-Star pitcher in Salazar,” said Royals manager Ned Yost, who skippered the winning club last week. “He’s not an All-Star for nothing. He’s tough.”

The Flynn-Gee combo got the call for the Royals in place of ineffective fifth starter Chris Young. Flynn lasted 2 2/3 innings in his first start since August 2014, while Gee went the next 5 1/3 innings.

Then again, Cy Young would have had a tough time matching Salazar on another hot, humid night.

He didn’t allow a runner past first base through the first five innings, striking out Alex Gordon twice along the way. He seemed to falter in the oppressive weather in the sixth, when Salvador Perez drove in a run and Kendrys Morales scored on a wild pitch, but managed to escape the inning.

He gave up a sacrifice fly in the seventh before Kyle Crockett finished the inning.

Salazar pitched with the lead the entire way after Napoli’s homer in the first inning, his 21st of the year just skirting inside the left-field foul pole. But the rest of the Indians’ offense came from the same kind of small ball that carried the AL Central-rival Royals to the World Series title last season.

They scored a run in the second on a single, a walk and two sacrifices. The division-leaders added three more in the fifth on a double, three singles, a walk and a fielder’s choice.

It was a nice way to rebound after Cleveland blew a late lead in a 7-3 loss the previous night,

“I was really pleased the way we handled it,” Francona said.

STATS AND STREAKS

Indians OF Erik Gonzalez had a single in the third for his first career hit. … Salazar has won seven straight, a career best. … Lindor has hit 24 career homers. Nineteen have been solo shots. … Gee matched the longest relief outing of his career.

HOT SEATS

Yost and Francona both said they may change up their lineups for the series finale on Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to approach 100 degrees for the afternoon start with a heat index well into triple digits. “We’re going to see tonight who needs a break,” Yost said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: OF Michael Brantley will have an MRI on Wednesday after experiencing pain in his right shoulder. He had surgery last November and played in only 11 games this season before landing back on the DL. Brantley has been on a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron since July 11.

Royals: RHP Kyle Zimmer, one of the club’s top prospects, has been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and will miss the rest of the season. The former first-round draft pick will have surgery in the coming weeks. The Mets’ Matt Harvey had surgery for the same condition Monday.

UP NEXT

The Royals’ Ian Kennedy is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA in daytime starts this season. He goes against fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is 4-2 with a 1.94 ERA in seven road starts.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Once Corey Kluber limped to the trainer’s room, the Kansas City Royals broke loose against the Cleveland bullpen.

Jarrod Dyson hit a grand slam that capped a seven-run rally in the eighth inning and the Royals took advantage after Kluber cramped up, topping the Indians 7-3 Monday night.

Kluber scattered five hits and took the mound to begin the eighth with a 2-0 lead. But manager Terry Francona and trainer James Quinlan came from the dugout and pulled Kluber before he could throw a pitch.

Kluber was suffering from a right calf cramp with the temperature at 90 degrees and the heat index 99 at the start of the game.

“I don’t think cramps are serious, but I don’t know how he’s going to push off the rubber,” Francona said.

With Kluber out, the Royals roughed up relievers Bryan Shaw and Jeff Manship. Alcides Escobar and Eric Hosmer began the eighth with singles and both scored on Christian Colon’s pinch-hit double.

“Soon as Escobar got that infield single, I turned to Wak (bench coach Don Wakamatsu) and said, `This is how it starts for us, especially at home,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Colon hit for Kendrys Morales, who had fouled a pitch off his right foot. X-rays were negative, detecting only a bruise. Colon squared around to bunt on the first two pitches, both balls. Colon then drove the next pitch to deep center tying it at 2.

“I was trying to bunt the first couple,” Colon said. “I think the situation presented itself … I tried to get the bunt down but those guys were crashing in. We’re always talking about the situations of the game. We’ve got to play aggressive and have to make things happen. That’s what makes this ballclub so good. We don’t play scared.”

With two outs, Shaw (1-4) walked Alex Gordon and Cheslor Cuthbert. Manship was summoned to face Paulo Orlando, who hit a go-ahead single. Whit Merrifield walked to load the bases before Dyson cleared them with his first career grand slam and his first home run of the season.

“I let the whole team down,” Manship said. “I let Corey down, Brian down, giving up his runs. That stinks, for sure. I definitely feel sick to my stomach for how that went.”

Will the Indians be playing Dyson deeper Tuesday?

“No, because it’s an accident,” Dyson said. “I knew it was gone. It felt great off the bat. They don’t happen to me very often, so I take advantage of that.”

Kluber, tagged by the Royals for eight runs in five innings on June 15 at Kauffman Stadium, struck out eight and walked three in shutting them down. He has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his past five starts.

Francisco Lindor, who is hitting .439 with three home runs against the Royals this season, homered off Edinson Volquez in the first inning.

Luke Hochevar (2-2) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. After Chris Young gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth, Wade Davis was called to get the final out, logging his 20th save in 22 chances.

ROYAL CLAIM TEPESCH

The Royals claimed RHP Nick Tepesch, a Kansas City native and a Missouri alum, off waivers from Oakland and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha. The Royals are his fourth organization this year. The other two are Texas and Los Angeles, making one big league start for the Dodgers. He is 8-3 with a 3.96 in 17 minor league starts this year.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: C Yan Gomez was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder separation and is expected to be out six to eight weeks. C Roberto Perez, who has right thumb surgery in May, came off the DL and started. . RHP Zach McAllister (right hip discomfort) made a rehab appearance Monday for Triple-A Columbus, allowing one hit and no runs in one inning against Louisville.

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (rotator cuff inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day DL. . OF Lorenzo Cain (strained left hamstring) took fly balls in right field in pregame drills. “He’s much better today than he was yesterday, but still not quite there,” Yost said.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar, who tops the American League with a 2.75 ERA, will start the middle game of the series.

Royals: LHP Brian Flynn makes his first start since Aug. 7, 2014, while with the Marlins. He is 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 13 relief appearances.

— Associated Press —

DETROIT (AP) — Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s drive to right field sailed toward the wall, and the Detroit catcher immediately raised his right arm in celebration.

Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Tigers a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Those were the only two RBI of the day for Detroit, which scored its first two runs of the game on a balk and a wild pitch.

“It felt really good, because I was starting to get a little gassed,” Saltalamacchia said. “It’s been seven or eight days since I’ve played, so I was ready to get out of there.”

After Tyler Collins hit a leadoff single, Saltalamacchia won it with a homer off Joakim Soria (3-4) that easily cleared the wall in right. Francisco Rodriguez (1-0) pitched a perfect top of the ninth for the win.

Detroit hasn’t gotten much offense from its catchers lately. Saltalamacchia is batting .206 even after his big hit Sunday, and James McCann is even lower at .199. Saltalamacchia does have nine homers, though, and his power handed the Royals a tough loss the day before the start of their big series with AL Central-leading Cleveland.

“That was an inside fastball, right where I wanted it, but he’s a professional baseball player, too, and he hit it hard,” Soria said. “You don’t want to lose, but I made the pitch I wanted and he hit it. Nothing you can do about that.”

Detroit rookie Michael Fulmer allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings. Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings.

The Royals led 2-0 when Detroit began chipping away in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Ventura struck out Miguel Cabrera, but with Victor Martinez up, the Kansas City right-hander was called for a balk, allowing a run to score.

Ventura struck out Martinez to end the inning, but with two outs in the sixth, he gave up a drive to the gap in right-center by Nick Castellanos that became a triple when the Royals had issues getting the ball back in. Castellanos came home on a wild pitch.

Kansas City opened the scoring in the second on an RBI double by Cheslor Cuthbert, and Eric Hosmer added a run-scoring single in the third.

STREAK SNAPPED

Fulmer allowed more than one earned run for the first time in 10 starts, but he was able to pitch deep into the game after the Tigers used several relievers the previous night. Mike Pelfrey, their starter Saturday, didn’t make it out of the second inning.

“The bullpen was taxed yesterday,” Fulmer said. “My goal was seven innings, and to run back out for the eighth was pretty cool.”

SHAKEN UP

Plate umpire D.J. Reyburn was hit around the neck when a third strike eluded Saltalamacchia in the eighth. The Tigers caught a break when the ball didn’t go to the backstop — after it hit Reyburn, Saltalamacchia was able to pick it up and throw to first to retire Hosmer.

Reyburn stayed in the game after a brief delay.

“I feel terrible. His kids were in the stands watching,” Saltalamacchia said. “Yanked changeup. I probably should have done a better job getting to it, but thankfully he’s OK.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: RHP Warwick Saupold (right groin strain) made a rehab start Saturday night for Class A Lakeland. He allowed four unearned runs and three hits with three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (8-8) starts against Cleveland’s Corey Kluber (9-8) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Indians.

Tigers: Detroit starts a three-game set against Minnesota with LHP Matt Boyd (0-2) on the mound against Ricky Nolasco (4-7).

— Associated Press —

DETROIT (AP) — The Kansas City Royals probably would have won this game without Wade Davis — but having their closer back on the mound was still a comforting sight.

Davis pitched a perfect ninth inning in his return from a strained forearm, and the Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Saturday night. Davis was activated from the disabled list before the game, and Kansas City went ahead and used him in a non-save situation.

“It felt really good,” Davis said. “Felt smooth, felt easy — a little bit erratic as far as where the ball is going, but other than that, it felt pretty good.”

Salvador Perez singled, doubled, scored a run and drew two of Kansas City’s seven walks. The Royals scored four runs in the first inning off Mike Pelfrey, who didn’t make it out of the second. Every hitter in Kansas City’s lineup scored exactly once except right fielder Paulo Orlando.

Danny Duffy (5-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings for Kansas City. He struck out seven and walked one.

Ian Kinsler homered for Detroit, but the Tigers were facing a significant deficit before they even came up to bat for the first time. Pelfrey (2-9) allowed five runs, four hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings.

“I was terrible. Didn’t get ahead, and half the guys I faced either got walks or hits. I was terrible,” Pelfrey said. “This game’s on me. I put the bullpen in a bad spot, I put the offense in a bad spot, and I take full responsibility for it. I was terrible. I got what I deserved.”

Pelfrey actually retired the first batter of the game, but the next six Kansas City hitters reached base. Alex Gordon opened the scoring with a bases-loaded single, and Pelfrey then hit Orlando to force in another run. Cheslor Cuthbert’s RBI single made it 3-0, and Christian Colon brought home another run with a groundout.

After allowing a single and two walks in the second, Pelfrey was pulled with the bases loaded and two outs. Reliever Dustin Molleken immediately threw a wild pitch that made it 5-1.

Kinsler’s two-run homer in the third cut the lead in half, but the Royals added three more runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Colon, Jarrod Dyson and Eric Hosmer.

WAITING HIM OUT

The Royals aren’t a team that walks much, but they adjusted when it became clear Pelfrey was having control problems.

“We put in some good at-bats there in the first inning,” Hosmer said. “A lot of guys toned down the aggressiveness a little bit, wanted to see some pitches.”

TRANSACTION

The Tigers optioned OF Steven Moya to Triple-A Toledo after the game. They’ll have OF Justin Upton back from the bereavement list for Sunday’s game against Kansas City.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Davis hadn’t pitched since June 30. … Manager Ned Yost said OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) might go out on a rehab assignment next week.

Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique strain) is expected to begin rehab work with Toledo next week. … RHP Jordan Zimmermann (right neck strain) said he’ll probably throw a bullpen session Monday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (6-7) takes the mound in the series finale Sunday. He’s 6-0 with a 3.27 ERA in his career against the Tigers.

Tigers: Rookie RHP Michael Fulmer (9-2) tries for his 10th consecutive start allowing one earned run or fewer.

— Associated Press —

DETROIT (AP) — A year after the Detroit Tigers traded away stars at the deadline, Justin Verlander is trying to prevent that from happening again.

“You don’t want to be sellers. Obviously we went through that last year, and it was tough for everybody here, especially when you’ve got a lot of guys in this clubhouse that are used to winning,” Verlander said. “We are a good club, and we’ve just got to go out there and prove it.”

Verlander struck out 10 in seven innings, and the Tigers scored three runs in the seventh to rally past Kansas City 4-2 on Friday night.

Victor Martinez drove in two runs with a single in the seventh when his comebacker deflected off reliever Joakim Soria and rolled to the area between first and second. With the second baseman playing way out in shallow right field, the Royals couldn’t retire Martinez, and two runners scored on the play.

“I’d rather give up a double up the gap than do that, because I had a chance to get us out of the inning, and I didn’t take it,” Soria said. “I made the pitches, but didn’t field my position.”

Detroit’s Tyler Collins hit a solo homer earlier in the inning off Luke Hochevar (1-2) to tie the game at 2. Ian Kinsler also homered for the Tigers.

Verlander (9-6) allowed one earned run and four hits. Justin Wilson pitched the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 25th save in 27 chances.

Detroit traded David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Soria during a disappointing 2015. The Tigers have been better this year, but they came into the day trailing by 6 1/2 games in the AL Central and by four in the race for a wild card.

Collins was called up from the minors before the game to replace Justin Upton, who was put on the bereavement list. Collins was 2 for 22 with Detroit this season before his seventh-inning homer tied the game. After consecutive singles by Jose Iglesias and Kinsler, Soria came on and walked Cameron Maybin to load the bases with one out.

After falling behind 3-0 on Miguel Cabrera, Soria recovered to strike out the Detroit slugger, but Martinez followed with his grounder that turned into a two-run single.

Verlander struck out the side in the first, and Kinsler led off the bottom half with a homer, but Detroit couldn’t add to that lead. With men on first and second in the sixth, Kansas City’s Salvador Perez lifted a deep drive to right that Steven Moya couldn’t handle. Perez ended up with an RBI double, and another run came home on the play thanks to a throwing error by Kinsler.

Kansas City starter Ian Kennedy allowed a run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.

RETURN

The most memorable thing Collins did with the Tigers earlier this season was extend a middle finger toward booing home fans back in April. He heard plenty of cheers Friday after his big home run.

“It feels great, definitely,” Collins said. “It feels better to get the win.”

RESPECT

Royals manager Ned Yost, who was the American League skipper at the All-Star Game, talked a bit about Cabrera’s gesture in Tuesday’s game in which he insisted Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer get another at-bat to try to boost his MVP case. Cabrera didn’t replace Hosmer until the seventh inning of that game.

“What’s really unique about the All-Star Game for me is that you get 34 guys from different organizations that you’re screaming at and yelling at one day from across the field, but you walk into that clubhouse door and it’s amazing how they unite into a team for two days,” Yost said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring) is probably at about 85 percent. Cain is eligible to come off the DL whenever the Royals feel he’s ready.

Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus said LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique) was probably a couple of days away from a bullpen session. … RHP Jordan Zimmermann (neck) said he would probably do long-toss Saturday.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (4-1) starts Saturday night against the Tigers. He has struck out at least seven hitters in four straight starts. The last Kansas City pitcher to do it in five straight starts was Zack Greinke, when he won the Cy Young Award in 2009.

Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-8) tries for his third straight quality start.

— Associated Press —

WASHINGTON (AP) — The 2015 World Champion Kansas City Royals will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on July 21.

The White House announced the visit Thursday, continuing the tradition of presidents meeting sports teams that win championships.

The White House also released a video featuring White House press secretary Josh Earnest, a Kansas City native. The video shows Earnest wearing a Royals cap and using a team mug as he fills a jug with water.

“We’re getting ready for you Salvy,” Earnest says, in a nod to Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who douses teammates with Gatorade or water after winning home games.

The trip will be the organization’s first trip to the White House since the 1985 World Series champions met President Ronald Reagan.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez made sure the Kansas City Royals will start at home, sweet, home if they get a chance to defend their World Series title.

The Royals duo homered off former Kansas City teammate Johnny Cueto during a six-pitch span in the second inning, Hosmer added an RBI single to become MVP of the All-Star Game and the American League beat the Nationals 4-2 Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.

David Ortiz found himself in the middle of the most touching moment at Petco Park, embraced by his AL teammates near first base after exiting his final All-Star Game. The popular Big Papi plans to retire at 40 after this season with Boston.

Kris Bryant of the Cubs led the parade of sparkling young talent with a first-inning home run. Dellin Betances flashed his 100 mph heat and Astros reliever Will Harris came on to throw a called third strike past Cardinals rookie Aledmys Diaz on a 3-2 pitch on the outside corner with the bases loaded to end the eighth.

Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera pitched a hitless sixth for the AL, which will open the Series at home for the 11th time in 14 years since the All-Star winner was used to determine the hosts for Games 1 and 2.

Kansas City became baseball royalty last fall, bursting to a 2-0 lead over the New York Mets at Kauffman Stadium, where Cueto pitched a two-hitter in the second game. The Royals won in five games for their first title since 1985.

This year, Kansas City is languishing at 45-43, seven games off the AL Central lead and in the middle of the wild-card race as attention turns to which teams will be buyers and sellers as the Aug. 1 trade deadline approaches.

Cleveland’s Corey Kluber pitched a 1-2-3 second inning for the win, and Zach Britton got the save for the AL, which cut its deficit to 43-42 with two ties

Ortiz, Boston’s beloved designated hitter, wore spikes with gold-colored bottoms and matching batting gloves to mark his 10th All-Star selection and delivered the AL batting order to umpires at home plate.

Ortiz hit a smash down the first-base line that Anthony Rizzo snagged to rob him of a potential RBI double in the first and walked against Jose Fernandez in the third.

When Edwin Encarnacion came out to pinch run for him, Ortiz waved to the crowd and then his AL teammates came out of the dugout to exchange hugs as the crowd of 42,386 rose in tribute.

“I was supposed to hit a home run in my second at-bat. My boy told me he was going to throw me a fastball, and the first pitch was a changeup,” Ortiz said.

“Then 3-2 he threw me a slider and I’m like, ‘Are you trying to break my back?’ But he said it was the catcher’s fault.”

Fernandez admitted “I couldn’t believe that I was actually pitching to him. We both looked at each other and smiled.”

“He signed the jersey I brought for him,” the 23-year-old Miami Marlins ace said.

Ortiz delivered a pregame speech to his mates.

“You don’t get here with a good name or a good family,” he said. “You have to put up the numbers. I told them that they have to do that for their whole career.”

The All-Star Game returned to San Diego for the first time since 1992 at Jack Murphy Stadium. Just before this first pitch, commissioner Rob Manfred joined Rod Carew, his family and the family of late Padres great Tony Gwynn and named the batting titles after the two Hall of Famers, giving Gwynn the NL honor and Carew the AL championship.

Gwynn died of salivary gland cancer two years ago at age 54.

Sailors dressed in white lined the foul lines and outfield warning tracks for the national anthems. The Tenors, a British Columbia-based group, changed an “O Canada” lyric to “We’re all brothers and sisters. All lives matter to the great,” and one held up a sign reading “All Lives Matter.”

Randy Jones threw out the ceremonial first pitch and former Padres All-Star closer Trevor Hoffman helped open, bringing the game ball to the mound from the bullpen accompanied by AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells.”

With an NL ballpark hosting for the second year in a row in a streak of at least four, the AL wore white uniforms, hit last and used the Padres clubhouse on the first-base side. Ball boys in retro-style mustard-and-mud Padres uniforms lent a San Diego feel to Petco, which opened in 2004.

There was a home run on the game’s fourth pitch for the second straight year; Bryant connected on a 96 mph Chris Sale fastball with two outs as hitters swung early in the count to beat the shadows creeping in from the left-field corner in the late-afternoon start.

Bryant, who had struck out in all of his regular-seat at-bats against Sale, was part of an all-Cubs infield — the first starting infield quartet from a single team since the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals.

“I think a lot of us were looking first pitch,” said Bryant, who played college ball for the University of San Diego. “A lot of pitchers are coming into the game trying to light up the radar gun a bit.”

That was the highlight for the NL Central-leading Cubs, whose fan base was pumped up by a fast start and dreams of the team’s first title since 1908.

Mike Trout, the All-Star MVP in 2014 and ’15, singled in the first for a five-All-Star Game hitting streak — only Mickey Mantle, Joe Morgan and Dave Winfield (seven each) and Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Nellie Fox (six apiece) strung together more.

The lead was short-lived, with Hosmer and Perez going deep for a 3-1 lead in the second, sandwiched around Mookie Betts’ single. Cueto was hard to miss in the center of the field, wearing lime green and orange spikes.

“This morning I got up and didn’t feel well. That is not an excuse,” Cueto said. “I just left two pitches up, and that was the story.”

Hosmer, the first Kansas City player to homer in an All-Star Game since Bo Jackson in 1989, made it 4-1 in the third against Fernandez when he hit a one-hopper off Bryant’s left arm and into left field for an RBI single.

Marcell Ozuna cut the gap with an run-scoring single off Aaron Sanchez in the fourth.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Seattle Mariners desperately wanted to go into the All-Star break with a winning record.

Robinson Cano and Adam Lind homered in a five-run seventh inning and the Mariners held off the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Sunday.

Cano’s two-run shot to deep right field for his 21st home run of the season extended the Mariners’ lead to 5-0. Lind hit a three-run shot, his 13th, a few batters later.

“A lot of good at-bats,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Guys were grinding. Definitely want to go to the break above .500. It was an important game for us today.”

The Mariners (45-44) head into the break above .500 for the second time since 2010, after going 51-44 in 2014.

The Royals scored five runs over the final three innings, pulling within three on Alex Gordon’s homer leading off the ninth.

Mike Montgomery (3-3) pitched 6 1/3 strong innings, giving up one run and five hits, in his first start of the season.

Dillion Gee (3-3) struggled early and picked up the loss for the Royals, giving up three runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings.

One of the key moments in Gee’s rough outing occurred in the first inning where an errant throw on a double play opportunity eventually led to Seattle’s first score.

“I kinda got caught in between when I came up to take a look at second,” Gee said. “It was right when the umpire was kinda like, making his way into position and I tried to slow up a little bit and it sailed on me. Just a costly mistake”

Brett Eibner had three hits, including his third homer of the season in the seventh and an RBI single in the Royals’ three-run eighth.

Despite the loss, the Royals went into the All-Star break with a winning record for the third straight season at 45-42.

Kyle Seager had a two-run single in the first, and Ketel Marte added a run-scoring single in the fourth to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead.

Marte finished the game with two hits in four at bats to go along with that run scoring single in the fourth inning.

“You know, see the ball, see the ball. If I feel good, I know I’ll get on base.” Marte said. “I know I’ve got the talent. I know I can hit. You know, I’m trying to come back and give a hundred percent every day and see what happens after.”

Kendrys Morales’ bases-loaded walk pulled the Royals to 8-2 in the eighth, and Cheslor Cuthbert capped the three-run inning with a sacrifice fly.

MASHING MARINERS

Seattle’s two homers pushed it into second by themselves with a team total of 132 home runs on the season. … Cano will compete in the 2016 Home Run Derby on Monday at Petco Park. He is the first Mariner to compete in the contest since Bret Boone in 2003. This is Cano’s first Derby since 2013 when he was with the New York Yankees.

ROYALS AT THE ESPYS

After the All-Star Game on Tuesday, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez will attend the 2016 ESPY’s on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Kansas City is nominated for “Best Team” and manger Ned Yost is nominated for “Best Coach/Manager”. This will be Perez first trip to the ESPY’s. “Yeah, it’s cool. The All-Star Game is a special moment, there’s a lot of top players there-a lot of All Stars. As for the ESPY’s, this is my first time going so that’s pretty good for us.”

UP NEXT

Following the All Star break, the Royals travel to Detroit to face the Tigers in a three game series then come back home for a nine game homestead against Cleveland, Texas and Los Angeles. The Mariners return from the break for two series at home then will hit the road for the rest of July to face Toronto, Pittsburgh and Chicago.

— Associated Press —