Cust-led A's top Royals

OAKLAND, Calif. " Jack Cust hit a three-run homer in a seven-run second inning, Orlando Cabrera had three hits and four RBIs and the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals 12-3 on Tuesday night.

Two days after getting shut out by Texas, the A's set a season-high for runs while pounding out 13 hits to snap a two-game losing streak.

Matt Holiday added two hits and two RBIs and Trevor Cahill (2-2) pitched six innings for the win as the A's handed the Royals their fourth straight loss.

Coco Crisp homered and had three hits for Kansas City, which remains percentage points behind Detroit in the AL Central. Mike Jacobs homered for the Royals.

The 12 runs were the most by the A's since beating Arizona 15-1 on June 17, 2008. Every Oakland starter scored at least one run and all but one " second baseman Adam Kennedy " had at least one hit.

Most of the damage came against Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar (0-1), who gave up eight runs in three innings after being called up from the minors on Sunday.

The runs were a rare sight for Cahill. The A's had scored only one run in each of his previous two starts and had scored more than two runs only once when he was on the mound.

Staked to the big lead, the right-hander worked efficiently and effectively after giving up consecutive four-pitch walks in the first inning. Cahill scattered seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Dan Giese, Kevin Cameron and Jeremy Blevins each pitched one inning for Oakland.

Jason Giambi, who remains one home run shy of 400 for his career, got the A's going in the first with a run-scoring double.

Oakland then sent 11 batters to the plate in the second to break the game open.

Jack Hannahan had an RBI double off the wall in left-center, Cabrera added a two-run single and Holliday drove in a run with a hit before Cust's towering three-run homer capped the outburst.

Hochevar was called up from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday after closer Joakim Soria was placed on the disabled list with a strained right rotator cuff.

Sidney Ponson, who was scheduled to start against Oakland, was shuffled into the bullpen, opening a spot in the rotation but Hochevar lasted just two innings.

Ponson relieved Hochevar but didn't fare much better, giving up two unearned runs in the third before Cabrera's two-run double in the fourth made it 12-1.

Notes: Hochevar had not given up a run in 21 straight innings in the minors before being called up. ... The A's had lost six straight to the Royals. ... Oakland 3B Eric Chavez underwent an MRI which revealed a bulging disk in his back. Chavez, who has been on the DL since May 1 with a strained right forearm, is scheduled to have additional tests performed in Phoenix.