Gio Gonzalez tossed seven sharp innings and Kevin Kouzmanoff had two hits and drove in a pair of runs in leading the Oakland Athletics to a 5-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Jack Cust and Mark Ellis each had an RBI as Oakland picked up where it left off at the All-Star break to win its third in a row.

Gonzalez (8-6) allowed just a run on seven hits while striking out three and walking one for his first win of July. Craig Breslow set down the side in order in the eighth before Michael Wuertz did the same in the ninth.

Kansas City starter Zack Greinke (5-9) was roughed up in his first appearance since having to skip a start because of discomfort in his shoulder. He was charged with five runs - two earned - on four hits over six innings.

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner had been unbeaten in his previous five outings.

With things tied at 1-1, the A’s scored a run in the second on an error and two more in the third on singles by Kouzmanoff and Ellis.

David DeJesus brought in the Royals lone run when he grounded into a double play in the first.