Vargas leads Royals past A's
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Jason Vargas pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-1 Thursday night.
The Royals snapped an eight-game losing streak against the A's in which they were outscored 61-20.
Vargas (2-0), who missed most of last season after rehabbing from 2015 Tommy John surgery, limited the Athletics to four hits and one walk while striking out eight. He was removed after 98 pitches.
A's right-hander Jesse Hahn wobbled early, giving up hits to the first three batters he faced and allowing two runs in the first inning. Hahn lasted six innings, and he yielded three runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out seven.
The Royals entered the game hitting a paltry .199 with a .268 on-base percentage, but they did enough on offense to pick up only their third victory in nine games.
Lorenzo Cain, who had three hits Wednesday, led the Royals' attack with two hits, a walk, an RBI, a run and a stolen base. Cain celebrated his 31st birthday by hiking his batting average to .345.
Kelvin Herrera worked the ninth to pick up the Royals' first save of the season. They were the only American League club without a save.
Herrera, who had not pitched since blowing a save Sunday, gave up a leadoff home run to Rajai Davis, his first, on a 2-2 count. Next, Jed Lowrie doubled before Herrera settled down, retiring the next three batters to protect the lead.
The Royals pieced together four singles in the first inning to score a pair of runs. Alex Gordon led off with a single to center and motored to third on Mike Moustakas' first-pitch single to shallow left. Two Hahn pitches later, Cain singled, scoring Gordon.
With one out, Salvador Perez's opposite-field single brought home Moustakas.
The Royals hiked their lead to 3-0 in the third. Cain led off the inning with an infield single and Eric Hosmer walked. Cain stole third base and scored on Brandon Moss' sacrifice fly to left fielder Davis.
A's first baseman Ryon Healy glared at Vargas after Healy skipped out of the way of an inside pitch in the second inning. The two exchanged words. Vargas then struck out Healy with a high 89 mph fastball.
The Royals won a challenge in the second inning when Raul Mondesi was called out stealing second by umpire Chris Guccione. The call was reversed, giving Mondesi his fourth stolen base. Moustakas grounded out to strand Mondesi.
Hahn committed an error in the second, dropping Healy's throw while covering first. A's pitchers have committed five errors this season. Oakland has been charged with an error in seven straight games.
NOTES: A's RHP Sonny Gray, on the disabled list due to a shoulder strain, threw to batters in two 15-pitch innings before the game. Gray's next step will be 45 pitches Monday in extended spring training in Arizona. ... The Royals were the only team that had not committed an error heading into Thursday's action. "We haven't made an error all year, so that's up to snuff," Royals manager Ned Yost said before the game. However, SS Alcides Escobar committed an error in the eighth inning. ... Royals LHP Danny Duffy and Angels RHP JC Ramirez are the pitching probables for Friday at Kauffman Stadium. ... The A's open a 10-game homestand Friday against the Astros. Oakland will start RHP Kendall Graveman and Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel in the opener.