The Kansas City Royals were unable to hold onto the lead, as reliever James McArthur allowed five runs in the ninth to drop the series finale Wednesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-6.

The Royals and Diamondbacks each picked up a run in the second inning. After Arizona took the lead in the fourth on back-to-back home runs, the Royals tied the game on a fielder’s choice and Kyle Isbel triple. A wild pitch from Ryne Nelson allowed Isbel to score what would have been the go-ahead run for Kansas City. However, the Royals went to the bullpen unusually early, with two outs in the fifth, and the bullpen held their own until the ninth. That’s when reliever James McArthur allowed a single and walk to set up Gabriel Moreno’s RBI double to put Arizona on top. Another single set up Ketel Marte’s three-run home run to put the game out of reach. The Royals clawed back two runs in the bottom half of the ninth, when Vinnie Pasquantino sent a single to right field.

McArthur took the loss with his fifth blown save of the season, giving up four hits and one walk in his lone inning. Starter Michael Wacha went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and a walk while recording one strikeout.

The Royals are now 56-47 and a game ahead of Boston for the third wild card spot, while six games behind Cleveland in the AL Central.

It’s a day off for the Royals before the homestand continues Friday, when the Chicago Cubs come to Kauffman Stadium for a three-game series.