KANSAS CITY (AP) - Brayan Pena drove in the tying run in the ninth inning, and Jarrod Dyson scored the winning run on a misguided cutoff throw across the infield, giving the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.
The wild ninth inning began when Mitch Maier reached first base while striking out on a wild pitch against Brewers closer John Axford (1-3), who also blew a save chance the previous night.
Axford retired Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar to bring up the light-hitting Dyson, who managed to draw a walk. Pena came in to pinch hit for Humberto Quintero and singled to left, allowing Maier to round third base and score the tying run.
Brewers shortstop Edwin Maysonet cut off the throw from the outfield and fired to second, where Pena had started to head, allowing Dyson to speed home with the winning run.
Tim Collins (4-0) worked the ninth inning to pick up the win for the Royals, who wrapped up their first three-game sweep at home since April 2011.
Milwaukee had pulled ahead in the eighth when Carlos Gomez singled off Luke Hochevar, and Maysonet laid down a sacrifice to get him into scoring position. Pinch-hitter Cody Ransom singled to left off reliever Jose Mijares to give Milwaukee the lead.
The run put Shaun Marcum in line to pick up his fourth straight win - at least, until everything unraveled for the second straight night against Axford.
He allowed Escobar's two-run triple in the ninth inning Wednesday night, and the Royals went on to win the game when Moustakas drew a bases-loaded walk in the 11th inning.
Ryan Braun homered in the fourth inning for Milwaukee, getting some help from a stiff breeze blowing out to left. Aramis Ramirez answered Eric Hosmer's go-ahead two-run homer for Kansas City in the sixth with a tying shot in the seventh, this one needing no help from the wind.
Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur and manager Ned Yost weren't around to see the dramatic ending, though they were no doubt celebrating together in the clubhouse.
Francoeur was ejected in the second inning by plate umpire Dan Iassogna for arguing a called third strike, and Yost was tossed in the fourth inning when Iassogna ruled the ball dead on a bunt attempt by the Brewers' Nyjer Morgan that replays showed should have been in play.
It was a particularly embarrassing ejection for Francoeur, who is the namesake of a promotion for Thursday night home games. Fans can purchase tickets for $21 - his jersey number - and receive a T-shirt, drink coupon and seat in the "Frenchy Quarter" section overlooking right field.
Several hundred fans wearing the yellow shirts booed as Francoeur was ejected.
Notes: Alice Cooper threw out the ceremonial first pitch. ... Milwaukee travels to Minnesota for a three-game series starting tonight. RHP Yovani Gallardo gets the start. The Royals head to St. Louis for a three-game series with RHP Vin Mazzaro on the mound.
The Royals purchased the contract of right-hander Roman Colon from Triple-A Omaha and optioned first baseman Clint Robinson to the same club before Thursday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kansas City also shifted left-hander Danny Duffy, who had Tommy John surgery this week, to the 60-day disabled list and signed second-round draft pick Sam Selman to a contract.
The Royals brought Robinson up from Omaha to provide an extra bat when they play in National League parks, something they'll do again this weekend in St. Louis. They optioned Louis Coleman to make room for him, which means they've ultimately swapped Coleman for Colon.
Royals manager Ned Yost said he needed another arm for the bullpen after using his relief corps heavily the first two games of their three-game set against Milwaukee.
Coleman has a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings of relief this season. Colon is 8-10 with a 5.12 ERA in the majors, where he hasn't pitched since 2010.
Selman, a left-hander out of Vanderbilt, was the 66th overall pick in last week's draft. He went 9-3 with a 3.55 ERA during his junior season for the Commodores.
Kansas City has now signed 28 of its 40 selections, including the first 11 picks.
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