KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alcides Escobar pumped his fist. Jarrod Dyson did a backflip. And for the first time in more than a decade, the Kansas City Royals were in first place in mid-August. Yordano Ventura outpitched Sonny Gray in a matchup of talented young starters Monday night, and Escobar drove in the go-ahead run as Kansas City beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2 to take over the AL Central lead from Detroit with its eighth consecutive victory. "You want to be in first place. Our goal was to get back to first place," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Now our goal is to stay in first place." The Royals trailed the Tigers by eight games on July 21, but their 16th win in 19 games wiped away the deficit and gave them the lead at the latest point in a season since 2003. "Were playing great," said Escobar, who drove in a run in the second inning before his two-out single off Gray (12-6) in the seventh gave Kansas City the lead for good. Ventura lasted through sixth innings before giving way to Kelvin Herrera (3-2), who tossed a spotless seventh. Wade Davis breezed through the eighth and Greg Holland worked the ninth for his 35th save, though it didnt come without a little drama. Josh Donaldson led off the ninth with a single, the first hit by the Athletics since the second inning, and Brandon Moss drew a walk. But after a brief conference on the mound, Holland got Derek Norris to bounce into a double play and Stephen Vogt to fly out to end the game. "He has the ability to focus pitch to pitch, which good closers can do," Yost said. "You get first and second with his stuff, you just have a feeling hes going to get out of it." Kansas City put pressure on right from the start, when Dyson and Omar Infante opened the game with back-to-back singles. Gray might have escaped the jam, though, if right fielder Josh Reddick hadnt flubbed a routine throw to the infield after Infantes hit. It allowed Dyson to reach third base easily, and he scored on Salvador Perezs double-play groundout. "Its pretty embarrassing," Reddick said, "especially since it cost us a run. And we end up losing by one run, so it doesnt make your feel any better." After Escobar made it 2-0 in th second, Oakland answered with some help from Ventura, who worked to overcome command problems most of the night. John Jaso led off with a single, Coco Crisp worked a walk and Donaldson earned another free pass to load the bases with two outs. Moss hit a full-count pitch up the middle to score both runners and knot the game. Yost pulled Ventura after a double play got the rookie right-hander through the sixth. And when Gray faltered in the seventh and Kansas City took the lead, one of the stingiest bullpens in baseball made sure the smallest of margins was enough. "Those three guys at the end are as good as you get," As manager Bob Melvin said. "They dont worry about righty-lefty. They feel when they get to the seventh inning with a lead, they feel pretty good about it." LEADERS OF THE PACK The Royals have not trailed since the first inning of Thursdays game in Arizona, a span of 44 innings. "Theres just a real confidence right now when we step on the field," Yost said. BULLISH BULLPENS Herrera has worked 17 1-3 consecutive scoreless dating to June 27. Thats the third-longest stretch in the majors behind Davis, who has gone 17 2-3 innings, and the As Ryan Cook, who has gone 19 innings. Grey AREA Gray struck out a career-low two batters while losing to Kansas City for the second time in his young career. The only other team hes lost to twice is Baltimore. TRAINERS ROOM Athletics: SS Jed Lowrie was back in the starting lineup. Hes missed time recently with a bruised right index finger. Royals: 1B Eric Hosmer continues to wear a brace on his right hand after breaking his third metacarpal. He hopes to return in September. UP NEXT LHP Jon Lester, who beat the Royals in his first start with Oakland, tries to move to 3-0 since arriving from Boston in a July 31 trade. Kansas City counters with RHP Jeremy Guthrie. Stan Smith Shoes Canada . Nwaneri, who was born in Dallas and attended Naaman Forest High School in nearby Garland, Texas, tweeted, "Its official! Im coming home, Im coming home. Adidas Superstar Canada . In the calls, Hernandez discussed the murder of Odin Lloyd, including his "belief about his criminal liability" and the "extent of his control over persons charged as accessories," according to the request filed Thursday in Fall River Superior Court. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/nmd-xr1-ch...nada/white.html. -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. Pw Solar Hu NMD Canada .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Packers by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5. Adidas Superstar Canada Sale . -- Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died.LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers have signed guard Maalik Wayns to a 10-day contract two days after waiving him. The team announced the deal Wednesday after waiving Wayns on Monday. The 6-foot-2 former Villanova player didnt appear in a game this season, missing the first 33 contests with a torn left meniscus. The Clippers lost All-Star guardd Chris Paul with a separated right shoulder last week.dddddddddddd Darren Collison has been starting in his place, but Wayns gives the team another back-up option. Wayns appeared in six games with the Clippers last season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.2 assists. Hes played in 27 career NBA games with the Clippers and Philadelphia. ' ' '