NEW YORK (Interstat) — The New York Mets scored five runs in the eighth inning Wednesday night to defeat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 at Citi Field.

Mets starter Christian Scott turned in a strong outing, allowing three hits and no earned runs over five innings with five strikeouts. The Royals’ Randy Dobnak matched him, giving up three hits and no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

New York took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kansas City tied it in the sixth on Salvador Perez’s RBI single. The Mets broke the game open in the eighth, plating five runs. Brett Baty delivered a two-run single, and Francisco Alvarez added an RBI single. Jared Young was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Royals scored once in the ninth on Carter Jensen’s RBI double.

Brooks Raley (4-3) earned the win with a scoreless inning. Alex Lange (0-5) took the loss.

A.J. Ewing hit a home run for the Mets. Attendance was 32,227. The game lasted 2:54. New York improved to 39-54; Kansas City fell to 38-55.