Dyson's 2-run single lifts Royals past Pirates, 3-1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Since Alex Gordon went on the disabled list, the Kansas City Royals have won seven of 10 with Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando replacing him in left field.

Dyson hit a two-run single in the eighth inning to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

''Both guys have played great defense and got some clutch hits for us,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said. ''They've been key base hits in key situations.''

Dyson scored later in the inning on Alcides Escobar's single to put the Royals up 3-0, and they won for the 11th time in 14 games.

''I was sitting on a fastball the whole time,'' Dyson said. ''I wanted something up to get to the outfield. I didn't want to hit the ball on the ground.''

Wade Davis (6-1) struck out Andrew McCutchen swinging to end the eighth with two Pirates on base to pick up the victory.

Greg Holland survived a shaky ninth, allowing a run on four hits and a walk, but struck out Gregory Polanco with the bases loaded for his 21st save in 24 opportunities.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole (13-4), who leads the majors in victories, was charged with all three runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings.

With one out in the eighth, Omar Infante reached on a fielding error charged to second baseman Neil Walker.

''Plain and simple, I missed the ball,'' Walker said. ''I feel worse than anybody about putting Cole in that situation, especially that one pitch. It didn't do anything. It just went right under my glove.''

Alex Rios' single moved Infante to third and Rios took second on the throw to third.

''I'm pretty frustrated on the pitch to Rios,'' Cole said. ''I was trying to go down and in and I left it middle-up. He burned me on that pitch earlier in the game, so I'm kind of frustrated that I made the same mistake twice. That put two very good runners in scoring position.''

Dyson followed with a sharp single to right, driving in Infante and Rios. When Gregory Polanco fumbled the ball, Dyson advanced to second, stole third and scored on Escobar's single.

Royals starter Jason Vargas left in the second inning after throwing 26 pitches with pain in his left elbow and will undergo a MRI Wednesday to detect the extent of the injury.

''It was pain,'' Vargas said. ''It didn't feel good by any means. I just knew I wasn't able to make any more pitches. The last two were pretty uncomfortable.''

Vargas left after throwing a 2-1 pitch for a ball to Brent Morel with one out in the second.

The Pirates had a run removed in the second, which began with a Starling Marte fly hitting high off the left-field wall and bouncing into the Royals' bullpen. It was initially ruled a home run, but was overturned on a crew chief challenge and ruled a ground-rule double. MLB released a statement on the ruling, saying the replay ''definitely determined'' the ball struck below the top of the wall and bounced over.

Marte was stranded at third.

ON THIS DATE

On July 21, 1978, 20-year-old Royals outfielder Clint Hurdle went 3-for-3 with a home run and six RBIs against the Rangers.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates: LHP Francisco Liriano threw a bullpen session with no issues and will start Thursday against the Nationals. A stiff neck prevented Liriano from starting Saturday. ... C Francisco Cervelli was held out with a bruised right wrist.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton is 3-7 with a 4.43 ERA in 12 career starts in interleague play, including a June 28, 2009, loss to the Royals.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who went 9-1 with a 1.85 ERA in his final 17 starts last season with Pittsburgh, will start Wednesday against the Pirates.