CINCINNATI (AP) – Emil Brown drove in four runs to lead Kansas City’s comeback, and Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer in the ninth that gave the Royals a rare road victory Tuesday night, 9-8 over the Cincinnati Reds.

Brown hit one of the three homers off left-hander Eric Milton, digging the Royals out of an early 5-1 deficit. Stairs’ two-out, pinch-hit homer in the ninth off closer Todd Coffey (3-2) was the deciding hit in a game that came down to the majors’ two worst bullpens.

Kansas City’s relievers were last in the AL with a 5.55 ERA heading into the game, while Cincinnati held up the bottom of the NL at 5.07.

This time, the Royals were a little bit better.

Jeremy Affeldt (3-5) got the last two outs in the eighth, when the Reds tied it at 7 with a pair of runs off Elmer Dessens. Ambiorix Burgos pitched the ninth for his sixth straight save, leaving him 13-for-19 overall.

It wasn’t without excitement, of course. Scott Hatteberg hit a one-out, solo homer that cut it to 9-8, Cincinnati’s second homer of the game. Ken Griffey Jr. hit the 550th of his career while the Reds pulled ahead 5-1 in the third inning.

Brown led the way for Kansas City. He had three hits overall and matched his career high with four RBIs. He also doubled with two outs in the ninth, ahead of Stairs’ ninth career pinch-hit homer.

The Royals finally reached double digits in road victories – 10-30, still worst in the AL.

John Buck and David DeJesus also homered off Milton, who failed to hold an early 5-1 lead because of his propensity to give up homers. The left-hander led the majors by allowing 40 last season, but had done better this season until Tuesday night.

The three homers outweighed another significant one by Griffey. His two-run shot in the third inning moved him into a tie with two cornerstones of the Big Red Machine.

The homer was Griffey’s 152nd since he rejoined his hometown team in 2000, matching Pete Rose and Joe Morgan for 12th place on the Reds’ career list. Griffey’s father, Ken Sr., was an outfielder on those dominant Cincinnati teams of the 1970s.

Griffey’s 550 homers overall ranks 11th all-time. He needs 13 more to tie Reggie Jackson.

The loss dropped Cincinnati to 17-20 at Great American Ball Park, where the Reds tend to lose games decided by homers.

Ahead 5-1 after the third inning, Milton melted down by giving up Buck’s two-out homer in the fifth and DeJesus’ leadoff shot in the sixth. Later in the inning, Brown tied it with a two-run double over Griffey’s head in center, and Doug Mientkiewicz’s infield single off Milton’s foot put the Royals up 6-5.

Brown’s sacrifice fly in the seventh off Esteban Yan made it 7-5 and gave him four RBIs for the third time in his career.

Notes: The game started with three umpires because Bruce Dreckman was ill. Replacement Chad Fairchild arrived on the field after the first inning. … Pittsburgh is the only team in the majors with a worse road record (8-31). … Wood became the 351st pitcher to give up a homer to Griffey. … The three homers off Milton matched his season high. He has given up 13 overall in 11 starts. … Milton, who spent his first six major league seasons in Minnesota, had won his last 10 decisions against the Royals.

AP-ES-06-27-06 2226EDT