Royals 4, Braves 3 (10 innings)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Gordon homered and drove in the winning run in the 10th inning as the Kansas City Royals beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.
After David Lough singled of Alex Wood (0-2) to start the frame and Miguel Tejada sacrificed him to second, Gordon delivered a 1-1 pitch down the left-field line to bring home the game winner.
The Braves split the two-game set in their first-ever visit to Kansas City.
It was the Royals 14th win in their final at-bat, most in the American League. The Royals are 6-1 in extra innings this year.
Aaron Crow (4-3) pitched out of trouble in 10th inducing a double-play grounder from Freddie Freeman after Jason Heyward singled to start the inning.
Mendoza held the Braves scoreless until the seventh when Dan Uggla and Chris Johnson singled with one out. Pinch-hitter Reed Johnson hit the first pitch from reliever Bruce Chen for a base hit to bring in Uggla.
After Heyward walked, Justin Upton drove a 1-1 pitch from reliever Luke Hochevar into center field bringing in Simmons and Johnson to tie the game, 3-3.
Mendoza worked 6 and 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out six.
Minor pitched six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.
The Royals struck first with two first-inning runs.
Gordon led off with his team-leading seventh home run, his first to lead off a game since Aug. 11, 2012.
With two outs, Butler doubled against Minor, then scored on Salvador Perez's hit to left.
In the third, Gordon led off with a single and moved to third on Alcides Escobar's base hit. With two outs, Butler singled to right, bringing in Gordon for a 3-0 lead.
NOTES: After an off day, the Braves return home Friday to start a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Atlanta has won all seven three-game series it's played at home this season, going 18-3. The Braves have not lost a three-game home series since dropping two of three to Philadelphia from Aug. 31-Sept. 2 last year. ... While losing six of nine games entering play Wednesday, the Royals were batting .182 (14-for-77) with runners in scoring position. They batted .356 (31-for-87) with runners in scoring position while winning nine of 10 from June 5-14. ... At a luncheon Friday, Atlanta will induct Chipper Jones into the club's Hall of Fame. The Braves will retire his No. 10 jersey in a pregame ceremony that evening. ... Kansas City opens a four-game series against the Twins in Minnesota on Thursday.