KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For the first and quite possibly the only time in his career, the Kansas City Royals have parlayed Billy Butlers plodding foot speed into a win. At 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, the burly DH does not run so much as he chugs. But with the game tied with two out in the eighth on Sunday, Butler hustled to first base to keep the inning alive. Then he hurried with all his might a few minutes later and was safe at third, allowing Eric Hosmer to cross the plate with the tiebreaking run in what turned into a 6-4 victory over Washington that snapped KCs seven-game losing streak. "All you can do is put the ball in play and dig. And thats what I did," Butler said with a grin. With two out and Hosmer on first and the game tied 4-all, Butler hit a hard grounder that first baseman Adam LaRoche knocked down. The ball rolled several feet to his right and when pitcher Craig Stammen was late to cover the bag, the slow-running Butler pulled into first with an infield single. "The pitchers supposed to get over there," Butler said. "They had to know I dont run very well. But all I could do was run, and I beat him after he didnt get off to a good start at first." Stammen then walked Mike Moustakas on fourth pitches and Salvador Perez hit a hard grounder to shortstop Ian Desmond. He bobbled the ball momentarily and his throw to third was late, allowing Hosmer to cross the plate on an infield single and making it possible for Royals manager Ned Yost to take a deep breath. "It seems like when youre going through those (losing) streaks, every decision you make doesnt work," Yost said. "Do I pinch run? (for Butler) Do I not pinch run? My heart kind of sunk there for a minute thinking as soon as it was hit and I see him going to third. But he ends up making it." David Loughs RBI single brought in the sixth run as the Nationals saw the end of a five-game road winning streak. Nationals manager Davey Johnson thought Butler should have been out at first, sending the teams into the ninth tied 4-4. "(LaRoche) bobbled the ball and then still had time to walk to first," Johnson said. "We should have got him out. With a ball hit right at him you can usually go to first." Kelvin Herrera (5-6) pitched 1 1-3 innings of relief for only the Royals third victory in 13 games. Stammen (7-6) took the loss and was part of a shaky defence. Greg Holland pitched the ninth for his 35th save in 37 opportunities, giving up two singles but striking out the side. Stammen went one inning, gave up three hits and two earned runs. Butler was not about to say the Royals were due a few good breaks. "This game never owes you anything. You cant be looking for breaks," he said. "You can just play the game hard and hope the ball falls on your side." Royals starter Ervin Santana was handed a 4-0 lead after the first inning but gave up three home runs, including Bryce Harpers two-run shot with two out in the seventh that tied it 4-all. Santana had a 4-1 lead and two out in the seventh when Denard Spans third hit of the day went for his third home run of the year. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single, bringing a visit to the mound by Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland. Harper then hit Santanas next pitch over the fence in left-centre, bringing Herrera in from the bullpen. Washington starter Dan Haren entered the game 4-0 in six career starts in Kauffman Stadium and had never allowed more than two earned runs in K.C. But that quickly changed. On Harens third pitch, Alex Gordon hit the 11th leadoff home run of his career. After Emilio Bonifacio walked, Hosmer hit an RBI single. Hosmer was out trying to steal, then Moustakas singled and Perez homered for a 4-0 lead against Haren, who had been 4-2 since coming back from the DL on July 8. Haren was in danger again in the second and was saved by a standout double play started by LaRoche, who dove to his right to grab a line drive off Gordons bat. From his knees, LaRoche threw to second base to double off Alcides Escobar. After that, Haren allowed only two singles while going seven innings. He was charged with four runs and eight hits. In the Nationals fourth, Desmond homered for the second time in two games. The ball bounced off the facade of the Royals hall of fame behind left field and was estimated at 431 feet. Span drilled a ball off Santanas right hip with one out in the third, the ball bounding all the way into foul territory behind third base while Anthony Rendon went from second to third. But after testing the leg and visiting with the Royals trainer on the mound, Santana stayed in to strike out Zimmerman and retire Harper on a shallow fly. Santana was charged with four runs and 11 hits in 6 2-3 innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks. NOTES: Jayson Werth was back in the Nationals lineup at DH after sitting out one game with an infection in his right foot. ... Royals had a fifth straight losing season in interleague competition. ... The Royals face Tampa Bay on Monday to make up a game that was snowed out in May. ... The Nationals finished a 10-game trip to Chicago, Atlanta and Kansas City 6-4. Joe Greene Jersey . As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on all the big issues with our insiders. Read up on all the questions and answers, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature. Jordan Berry Jersey . Beckham says "nothing has been confirmed yet, but its something I am very excited about." He adds that "Miami is something that really excites me because there is a great energy down there. http://www.officialpittsburghsteelersfootball.com/authentic-terry-bradshaw-jersey-womens . Both moves were announced Tuesday. The Titans had waived Matthews on Saturday when they promoted wide receiver Michael Preston from the practice squad. Ryan Shazier Jersey . Louis and Ryan Kesler have demanded to be traded. Arthur Moats Jersey .2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted. SAN FRANCISCO -- It didnt take Tim Hudson very long to establish himself as the ace of the San Francisco Giants rotation. One month into the season, the three-time All-Star is looking just as sharp and crisp as ever. Not even a close play at first base that was eerily reminiscent to the one that resulted in a shattered right ankle last July was enough to rattle the right-hander. Hudson and Sergio Romo combined on a five-hitter and the Giants beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 on Wednesday night. "He just put on a clinic," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "He stayed down the whole game, had good movement, changed speeds and threw strike one. If you want to show young pitchers how to do it, thats how you do it." Hudson (4-1) struck out six and didnt walk a batter for the fourth time in five starts this season. The Giants most consistent starter in his first season with the club, Hudson has walked two batters in 46 innings. The 38-year-old was one pitch from recording his first shutout in nearly two years before Yasmani Grandals two-out home run in the ninth. "It was definitely an economical night," Hudson said after throwing 89 pitches. "I was able to get down in the strike zone and stay down in the zone, work ahead in the count. Guys were making some good plays behind me. It was a fun night for us." Brandon Hicks homered and Michael Morse drove in his team-leading 20th RBI for the Giants, who finished 5-1 on their homestand. Cameron Maybin doubled and scored for San Diego, which has lost 10 consecutive series at AT&T Park. Hudson allowed only one runner past second base until Grandals home run in the ninth, and had two stretches where he retired nine straight batters. The right-hander helped his cause at the plate with a single in the second and a key sacrifice bunt in the seventh that put the eventual winning run in scoring position. He also survived a scare while covering first base to take the throw from Brandon Belt and retire Jace Peterson to end the fifth. The play brought back memories of last season when Hudson collided with Eric Young of the New York Mets and suffered a gruesome season-ending ankle injury. "Im not as quick as I used to be getting to first," Hudson said. "That kid was getting down the line pretty good. The old guy had to put it into overdrive to beat him.dddddddddddd" Hudson was sharp early and needed only 19 pitches to retire the first seven batters. After giving up a one-out single to Peterson in the third, the three-time All-Star struck out San Diego pitcher Robbie Erlin and Everth Cabrera. The only other hits the Padres managed came on a two-out double by Grandal in the fourth, a single by Jedd Gyorko in the seventh and a leadoff double by Maybin in the eighth. Maybin scored on Alexi Amaristas groundout. "You cant let a guy like that get ahead in the count," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Hell really give you fits. Those pitches that were early count swings looked to me as though they were in good spots today. We just didnt hit them." The Giants, playing without leadoff hitter Angel Pagan and third baseman Pablo Sandoval, backed Hudson with just enough offence. Every starter except leadoff man Juan Perez had at least one hit. Hunter Pence singled, stole second and scored on Morses two-out double off the wall in right in the first. Hicks fifth home run of the season leading off the second made it 2-0. Erlin (1-4) pitched out of jams in the third and fourth but lost his fourth straight start. He left with two outs in the seventh, struck out five and walked one. Buster Poseys RBI single off reliever Dale Thayer drove in Joaquin Arias to put the Giants up 3-0. After Grandals homer cut San Franciscos lead to 3-2, Romo retired pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia for his seventh save. Pagan was given the night off to rest his sore right knee while the slumping Sandoval also rested. Sandoval went into the night batting just .177 with only six RBIs. NOTES: Gyorko was reinstated from the paternity leave list before the game. To make room, San Diego optioned Tommy Medica to Triple-A El Paso. ... Padres LF Carlos Quentin, on the 15-day DL with a bone bruise in his left knee, will re-join the big league club for a workout at Petco Park before Fridays game against Arizona. The team will then determine where Quentin goes to begin a rehab assignment. ... RHP Tim Lincecum (1-1), who starts the series opener, has a 2.99 ERA in 13 career starts against the Braves. ... RHP Andrew Cashner, San Diegos starter against Arizona, has a 0.81 ERA at Petco Park this season. 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