CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Nick Loftin added a two-run shot in the ninth as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Wednesday. The Royals scored three runs in the ninth, breaking a 2-2 tie. Michael Massey drove in the go-ahead run with a single. Stephen Kolek pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts but did not factor in the decision. Daniel Lynch IV got the win with a scoreless inning of relief, improving to 2-0, and Alex Lange earned his first save. Blake Dunn homered for the Reds. Chase Burns struck out nine over six innings for Cincinnati. The Royals improved to 24-38 while the Reds fell to 31-30. Attendance was 15,959 at Great American Ball Park. Time of game was 2:45.