OAKLAND, Calif. | Here&#8217;s a script the Royals would love to repeat as often as possible in coming years:</p><p>Jos&#233; Guillen and Alex Gordon hit two-run homers Monday night in support of a dominating performance by Zack Greinke in a 4-2 victory over the Oakland A&#8217;s at McAfee Coliseum.</p><p>Throw in an airtight outing by Ramon Ramirez, who stranded the tying runs after replacing Greinke with one out in the eighth, and a record-tying save by Joakim Soria.</p><p>Yes, a good night.</p><p>Greinke, 8-7, won for the first time since June 24 by limiting the A&#8217;s to two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out a career-high 11 and walked one in a 106-pitch performance.</p><p>&#8220;I really pitched about the same as I did the last couple of games,&#8221; Greinke said, &#8220;but I was able to spread out the hits a little better. The last two games, it seemed they came all in one inning.&#8221;</p><p>Guillen returned to the lineup after missing Sunday&#8217;s game because of a sore left groin and hit a first-pitch fastball from Oakland starter Dallas Braden for a two-out homer in the first inning.</p><p>&#8220;It was a good pitch to hit,&#8221; Guillen said. &#8220;A fastball. Maybe it helped that my groin was hurt. I didn&#8217;t have too much movement in my leg. I was able to just use my hands.&#8221;</p><p>That got the Royals rolling.</p><p>Gordon&#8217;s homer extended the lead to 4-1 in the sixth. Guillen&#8217;s homer was his first since June 23; Gordon&#8217;s homer was his first since July 1. Gordon also had two singles for his first three-hit game since May 28.</p><p>Soria&#8217;s save was his 28th in 30 opportunities and let him tie Juan Acevedo for the most saves in a season by a Mexican-born player.</p><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s great,&#8221; Soria said. &#8220;My family will be proud of me. That&#8217;s what I&#8217;m working for, to keep them happy.&#8221;</p><p>Ramirez was brilliant after entering with runners at first and third with one out in the eighth. He struck out cleanup hitter Jack Cust on a slider before retiring Carlos Gonzalez on a grounder to first.</p><p>&#8220;All I was thinking,&#8221; Ramirez said, &#8220;was &#8216;keep the ball down.&#8217;&#8194;&#8221;</p><p>It was still tougher than it had to be. The Royals missed chances to build their lead after putting two runners aboard with one out in the eighth and again in the ninth.</p><p>Still, it was good enough for their first victory this season in four games against the A&#8217;s, and it kept them from falling past Cleveland into last place in the American League Central Division.</p><p>The Royals finished with 11 hits, including three by Mike Aviles and two by Billy Butler.</p><p>Greinke allowed a soft run in the fourth but had little trouble until after he opened the eighth by retiring Brooks Conrad for his 11th strikeout. Greinke then issued his first walk, to Eric Patterson, and Kurt Suzuki followed with his third single.</p><p>Ryan Sweeney&#8217;s single through the right side pulled the A&#8217;s to within 4-2 and moved Suzuki to third. Ramirez entered at that point and squelched the threat.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think (Greinke) got tired,&#8221; Hillman said. &#8220;Look at the hits. Two grounders. They didn&#8217;t square him up.&#8221;</p><p>Braden, 2-1, lasted 6 2/3 innings in his second outing since joining the rotation. He allowed four runs and six hits while striking out seven and walking two. Really, the Royals did little against Braden beyond the two homers.</p><p>It was enough.</p><p>Guillen left the game in the Oakland seventh for a defensive replacement with the Royals leading 4-1. Mitch Maier entered the game in center field, and David DeJesus shifted from center to right.