PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals' victory didn't help manager Tony Muser's stress level.

After blowing a ninth-inning lead, the Royals scored three runs in the 11th -- capped by Dave McCarty's two-run double -- as the Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5 on Sunday.

The Royals were within one out of closing the game in the ninth when Jerry Spradlin gave up a game-tying pinch homer to Wil Cordero.

"When you're down to one out in the ninth inning and you give up a home run, it's emotionally devastating," Muser said. "But nobody quit or laid down. They could have laid down and died but they didn't. It's probably taking years off of my life but it's good."

Even with a three-run lead, the Royals gave up a run in the bottom of the 11th and ended the game with the bases loaded. Dan Reichert struck out Pat Meares to end it and get his second save after putting three of the six batters he faced on base.

"Danny is always exciting," Muser said.

McCarty's two-run double capped a three-run 11th inning and Jermaine Dye homered for the third straight game.

Carlos Beltran doubled with one out in the 11th off Jason Christiansen (1-4), just missing a home run by inches. After Joe Randa was walked intentionally, Gregg Zaun walked to load the bases.

Carlos Febles hit a weak grounder to shortstop to score the tiebreaking run and McCarty followed with a double to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

"I wanted to get a groundball and get a double play," Christiansen said. "I got the groundball but the last thing you want there is a chopper. It's frustrating. You want to go over and wring the guy's neck for hitting the ball so badly."

Jason Rakers (2-0) got three outs for the win. Reichert came on with a runner on third and no outs in the 11th and gave up a one-out, RBI single to Brian Giles. He also walked a pair.

Dye hit a three-run homer, his 17th of the season, in the sixth against Kris Benson that gave the Royals a 4-3 lead.

Rey Sanchez opened the inning with a double and Mike Sweeney singled. Dye hit Benson's 2-0 pitch off the right-field foul screen.

"I got just enough of it to sneak in through." Dye said.

Jeff Suppan allowed two home runs and Giles hit his 16th home run after John Vander Wal doubled. Adrian Brown hit his first of the year later in the fourth.

Kansas City's first run came in the second when Benson walked Dye, then gave up singles to Carlos Beltran and Joe Randa.

The Royals are 4-2 on their road trip and have taken 2-3 from Boston and Pittsburgh.

Game notes
Cordero's homer was his first in his career as a pinch-hitter. ... Kansas City pinch-hitters have six hits in their last 10 at-bats. They started the season 1-for-15. ... Dye had three hits in the series, all home runs. ... Until Sunday, Benson had not allowed more than two earned runs in his last five home starts. ... The Pirates have hit at least one home run in 12 of their last 14 home games.