Pirates pummeled by Royals, ending 4-game winning streak

Royals pound out 14 hits, take series opener

Pittsburgh's offense struggles as win streak snapped

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals pounded out 14 hits and took advantage of three Pittsburgh Pirates errors to end their four-game winning streak with a 9-2 victory on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The Pirates struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Royals answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning and never trailed again.

The Royals added three more runs in the third inning, two in the fourth and two more in the sixth to build a commanding 9-1 lead off Pirates starter JT Brubaker (3-9).

Royals starter Brady Singer (8-4) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.

Michael A. Taylor went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Royals, while Hunter Dozier, Andrew Benintendi and Whit Merrifield each had two hits.

Ke'Bryan Hayes had two hits for the Pirates, who have lost five of their last six games.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in the second game of the three-game series.