KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dan Johnson and Jack Cust each homered twice and the Oakland Athletics routed the Kansas City Royals 17-3.

Danny Putnam hit his first major league home run and Eric Chavez also connected for Oakland. The A’s set season highs for homers, runs and hits (18).

Johnson went 4-for-4 with two walks, driving in four runs and scoring four. Chavez had four RBIs and Shannon Stewart had four hits.

The Athletics improved to 29-7 at Kansas City since the start of the 2000 season. Marco Scutaro was 0-for-21 lifetime at the ballpark before a two-run double in the sixth.

Winner Joe Kennedy (1-2) did not allow a hit until Billy Butler’s two-out single in the fifth. Kennedy left after six innings, allowing three runs on four hits.

Luke Hudson (0-1), activated off the disabled list before the game, lasted just two-plus innings. He threw only 23 strikes in 50 pitches while giving up five runs on two hits and four walks. He’d been out because of a sore right shoulder.

Putnam, who got into the game when Chris Snelling had to leave early, led off the seventh with a home run against reliever Neal Musser. Johnson and Cust hit consecutive homers later in the inning.

Cust’s two-run homer highlighted a five-run second inning. Chavez hit a three-run homer in the fourth as the A’s took a 9-0 lead.

Johnson tied career highs for hits, runs and RBIs. He also matched his longest hitting streak in the majors at 10.

Emil Brown hit a two-run double and Mark Grudzielanek had an RBI double in the Royals sixth.

Notes: CF Chris Snelling left with a bruised left knee in the second inning. … Royals C Jason LaRue bruised his left shoulder in the third inning and was taken for an MRI exam. Oakland’s Adam Melhuse struck out on a pitch by Todd Wellemeyer, and the ball hit LaRue. … Kansas City’s Mark Teahen went 0-for-3, snapping his nine-game hitting streak. 1B Mike Sweeney went 0-for-2 with a walk, ending his seven-game hitting streak.

AP-ES-05-10-07 1723EDT