The Royals returned home from a 1-5 road trip to begin a series against the Washington Nationals in Kansas City.
Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals bullpen combined for a five hit, 2-0 shut out victory over the Royals. Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy drove in the only runs in the first inning.
The Royals offense went a combined 5 for 31 with four singles and one double. Edinson Volquez (3-2) suffered the loss allowing seven hits and two runs in over seven plus innings.
The Nationals have won four straight games and are 18-7 overall. The Royals drop to 13-12 overall and are 4.5 games back from the first place White Sox in the AL Central.
Chris Young will start game two for KC on Tuesday night.
