KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals just keep on winning.

Hot since the All-Star break, the Royals on Monday evening defeated the Texas Rangers 4-3 to open a series at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City’s winning streak is now at four games and the team is 6-1 on its current homestand.

With the victory, the Royals (64-61) are now also 2 1/2 games ahead of the Rangers (62-64). Both are chasing the New York Yankees (67-57) for the third and final AL wild-card spot in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

The Royals, who made it to the postseason last fall, gained some ground on the Yankees with Monday’s victory and are now just 3 1/2 games behind New York.

Home runs lead way for Royals

The Royals started the scoring as early as possible when leadoff hitter Mike Yastrzemski belted a shot over the center field wall.

It was Kansas City newcomer Yastrzemski’s third leadoff home run of the month. Dealt from the San Francisco Giants to Kansas City at the MLB trade deadline, he’s now tied with Johnny Damon (September 1998) and Alex Gordon (August 2012) for most leadoff home runs in a month in Royals history.

The Rangers responded with a run of their own in the top of the second, but the Royals bounced right back in the third. Vinnie Pasquantino belted a two-run homer — his 23rd of the year — to right field, driving in Bobby Witt Jr.

The Royals never trailed in this game, but the situation became interesting atop the eighth. With Rangers on second and third and just one out, Kansas City relief pitcher Lucas Erceg managed to escape with just one earned run allowed.

That narrowed the Royals’ lead to one, at 4-3, but the home team hung on and closer Carlos Estevez picked up a personal-milestone save (more about that in a moment).

Here are some other notable aspects of Monday evening’s game:

Wacha maintains his composure

It wasn’t the best outing of Michael Wacha’s big-league career, but the veteran right-handed starter pitched well enough for a win that kept alive his streak of allowing two earned runs or fewer in recent starts.

Wacha (7-9) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs with three strikeouts. He surrendered a season-high nine hits but no walks. He gave up his first five hits in the first two innings but then allowed just one more run all night.

Rangers right-handed starter Jack Leiter, meanwhile, struggled. He exited midway through the fourth after surrendering three earned runs and striking out five. He allowed six hits and three walks.

Rave shows off his arm

Royals right fielder John Rave prevented a run from scoring in the second inning thanks to a nice throw home.

Rangers right fielder Josh Smith flied out to right field, but Texas designated hitter Joc Pederson attempted to score after tagging up at third base. Rave threw a dart to catcher Luke Maile, and the home-plate umpire ruled Maile had tagged Pederson just before he touched home plate. The Rangers challenged the call, but the decision on the field was soon upheld.

Perez misses series opener

Royals catcher and team captain Salvador Perez was a late scratch for Monday night’s series opener because of an illness.

He was supposed to catch for Wacha and bat fifth in the order. And he was no doubt looking forward to it: The first time he faced Leiter this season, on June 17 in Arlington, Texas, he homered twice.

“He’s just sick,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He doesn’t feel well today. We know that for him to even say something, he’s got to be pretty sick.”

Quatraro said Perez was still available as an emergency catcher for the game in case anything happened to catcher Luke Maile.

Royals designate Canha for assignment

Before the game, the Royals designated veteran outfielder Mark Canha for assignment.

Quatraro explained why before Monday’s game.

“We don’t have a clear opportunity for him for playing time,” Quatraro said. “At this point, that was the decision to make: to let him try to have an opportunity to find a big-league job elsewhere.”

Estevez records career-high 32nd save

Carlos Esteves recorded his league-leading 32nd save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning against Texas.

The 32 saves represents a career high for the major-league veteran relief pitcher, who is in his first season with the Royals.

Up next for the Royals

The Royals continue their four-game series vs. the Rangers on Tuesday. Kansas City’s Seth Lugo is scheduled to pitch against Texas’ Merrill Kelly.

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