CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Lane Thomas hit a grand slam in the first inning and finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 on Monday at Great American Ball Park.

Thomas launched the second homer of his season to left-center, scoring Carter Jensen, Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone. Caglianone added a two-run homer in the fifth, his sixth. Michael Massey hit a solo shot in the seventh, his fifth. Kansas City also scored in the sixth and ninth innings.

The Royals amassed 13 hits. Luinder Avila (1-2) earned the win, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts over five innings. Alex Lange, Mason Black, John Schreiber and Eli Morgan combined for four innings of relief.

Cincinnati managed six hits. JJ Bleday hit a solo homer in the first, his 10th. Matt McLain doubled in a run in the ninth. Lyon Richardson (0-1) took the loss.

Attendance was 19,409, and the game lasted 2:43. The Royals improved to 23-37, while the Reds dropped to 30-29.