KANSAS CITY — Billy Butler homered and drove in four runs to lead Kansas City past Oakland 5-2 on Tuesday night in a game between teams that combined for 40 losses in August.

It was the second time in three games Butler had four RBIs. He homered over the left-field wall in the first for a 3-0 lead. Rookie Gio Gonzalez (1-3) walked Mike Aviles, and Jose Guillen reached on left fielder Aaron Cunningham’s error prior to Butler’s shot into the water display.

Butler had an RBI single off Santiago Casilla in the fifth and was 3-for-4. The barrel-chested designated hitter had two home runs and four RBIs in Detroit on Saturday night and has hit in eight straight games.

Ryan Shealy, a September callup from Triple-A Omaha, hit a 3-2 offering from Gonzalez over the fence in right for his first major league homer since June 6, 2007.

Zack Greinke (10-9) allowed two runs in seven innings for his first win in five starts, walking one and striking out eight. Greinke, who hadn’t won since Aug. 2, had his most strikeouts since ringing up a season-best 11 against the A’s on July 28.

Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his 34th save, first since Aug. 15.

It was only the third victory in 15 games for the Royals, who were an AL-worst 7-20 in August. Oakland’s 10-20 record was second-worst.

Daric Barton drove in both runs for Oakland and lacked only a double for the cycle. He had an RBI triple in the second, a solo homer in the fifth and a single off Soria in the ninth. He was 3-for-3 with a walk.

The A’s had runners at second and third with one out in the fifth, but Greinke got Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney on ground balls.

Gonzalez went four innings in his sixth major league start and gave up only two hits — the home runs by Butler and Shealy. He walked three and struck out five.

The game was delayed 30 minutes at the start by rain.