Kansas City comeback cancels early Pirates lead

KANSAS CITY — David DeJesus and John Buck drove in two runs apiece and Kansas City erased an early deficit to beat Pittsburgh 10-6 Tuesday night in an interleague clash between the two worst teams in the majors.

The two starters, Mark Redman and Kip Wells, were a combined 13-33 last year for the Pirates and neither showed signs of great improvement.

A shaky Redman (4-4) gave up four runs in the first and issued five walks before settling down to get his fourth straight victory as the Royals improved to 20-49.

Wells lasted 3 1/3 innings in his first start since undergoing surgery in March for a blocked artery. He was charged with six runs on five hits and five walks while the Pirates dropped to 26-46.

The right-hander gave up one run in the bottom of the first and three in the second and then Royals then took a 6-5 lead with two more in the fourth inning of the sloppily played game. The Pirates tied their season-high with three errors and set a season high with 11 walks.

Freddy Sanchez had an RBI double in the first for the Pirates and then Joe Randa stroked an RBI single ahead of Craig Wilson’s two-run home run, a drive to almost straightaway center estimated at 442 feet.

Nathan McLouth doubled leading off the Pittsburgh second and made it 5-1 on Sanchez’ RBI single.

Buck had a two-run double and scored on a single by DeJesus in the Royals’ second, making it 5-4. In the fourth, the Royals scored runs on Angel Berroa’s RBI single and reliever John Grabow’s bases-loaded walk to DeJesus.

The Royals loaded the bases again in the fifth on second baseman Jose Castillo’s fielding error, Reggie Sanders’ walk and Matt Stairs’ single. One run scored on Mark Teahen’s single and a second crossed the plate on right fielder McLouth’s fielding error.

Redman, who was 5-15 for Pittsburgh last year and traded to Kansas City in the offseason, had not won four in a row since July 2000 with Minnesota.