KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Felipe Paulino kept the scuffling Athletics at bay for six innings Friday night, and the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen handled the rest in a 2-0 victory that gave Oakland its season-worst ninth straight loss.
Yuniesky Betancourt came off the disabled list to provide an RBI double in the first, and Mike Moustakas added an RBI blooper to left later in the inning, helping Kansas City win for only the sixth time in 23 games at Kauffman Stadium this season.
Paulino (3-1) has emerged as the ace of the Royals’ haphazard starting rotation, holding the opposition off the scoreboard through six innings for the fourth time in six starts.
He allowed three hits against Oakland while striking out five and walking three.
Both of the Royals’ runs were charged to Bartolo Colon (4-6).
