KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — The Milwaukee Brewers struck early and held off a late Kansas City rally to secure an 8-5 victory over the Royals on Sunday evening at Kauffman Stadium, claiming the series win in the rubber match of a three-game set.

A crowd of 14,584 watched as the Brewers (7-2) jumped on Royals starter Kris Bubic in the first inning and never trailed, weathering a three-run seventh inning by Kansas City (4-5) before adding insurance in the ninth.

The most critical juncture of the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Brewers had just extended their lead to 6-2 in the top half on a two-run single by William Contreras, but the Royals mounted an immediate and threatening response. They loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Angel Zerpa on a single by Starling Marte, a walk to Jonathan India, and a pinch-hit single by Isaac Collins.

Maikel Garcia, who had earlier launched a two-run homer, then lined a single to left, scoring one run and keeping the bases loaded. After Bobby Witt Jr. struck out, Vinnie Pasquantino delivered a sharp two-run single to left, cutting the Milwaukee lead to 6-5 and putting the tying run on second with only one out. Zerpa recovered to get Salvador Perez to fly out, advancing Garcia to third, and then handed the ball to Hoby Milner. Milner induced a groundout from Lane Thomas to end the inning, preserving a one-run lead and halting the Royals’ momentum.

Milwaukee’s early offense was powered by its heart of the order. Christian Yelich tripled home Contreras in the first inning, and Gary Sánchez followed with a two-run homer to left-center, his third of the year, giving starter Kyle Harrison a 3-0 cushion before he took the mound.

Harrison (1-0) earned the win, navigating 5 1/3 innings of work. He allowed two earned runs on three hits, both runs coming on Garcia’s third-inning homer. Harrison struck out six and walked one, effectively managing the Royals’ lineup after the early support.

Bubic (1-1) took the loss for Kansas City. He lasted five innings, surrendering four earned runs on four hits. He struck out eight Brewers but was hurt by the first-inning outburst and a fourth-inning RBI double by Blake Perkins that scored Brandon Lockridge, who had walked.

The Brewers added crucial late runs in the ninth against the Royals’ bullpen. Yelich led off with a double and scored on a double by pinch-hitter Jake Bauers. Bauers later came home on a single by Lockridge, extending the lead to 8-5.

Trevor Megill closed the door in the ninth for his third save of the season, allowing a two-out single to Witt Jr. before retiring Pasquantino on a fly ball to right.

Milwaukee’s 10-hit attack was led by Contreras, who went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, and two RBIs. Yelich finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Garcia was the standout for Kansas City, going 2-for-5 with the home run and three RBIs.

The game lasted 3 hours, 5 minutes. Milwaukee pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts, 68 balls, and 20 balls in play, while Kansas City’s staff had 14 strikeouts, 54 balls, and 14 balls in play.

The victory gave Milwaukee a 2-1 series win after the teams split the first two games. The Brewers continue their road trip Monday in Boston for a three-game series against the Red Sox. The Royals head to Cleveland to open a three-game series with the Guardians on Monday.

Harrison’s strong start built on his previous outing, a 5-inning, 1-run performance against Tampa Bay on March 30, though he took the loss in that game. The Brewers have now won seven of their last eight games.

The total of 13 runs surpassed the pregame over/under line of 8. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 6-5 Milwaukee victory, and its ELO system gave the Brewers a 57% probability to win. Milwaukee covered the -1.5 spread.