Marcus Semien homered, tripled and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Athletics set season highs for runs and hits in a 19-4 thrashing of the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Jurickson Profar, Matt Chapman and Khris Davis also went deep for the A’s, who are locked in a tight race with Cleveland and Tampa Bay for the two American League wild cards.

Josh Phegley had a career-high four hits, drove in three runs and scored three times. Three other players had three hits and every starter got at least one as Oakland finished with 22.

Royals outfielder Alex Gordon made his first career appearance on the mound, throwing 1 1/3 innings and giving up three runs on five hits, including a two-run homer by Chapman.

Gordon walked off to a standing ovation from Royals fans after his first pitching appearance since his freshman year at Nebraska.

Kansas City infielder Humberto Arteaga pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and allowed just a solo home run to Davis in the ninth.