KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—The Kansas City Royals put struggling right-hander
Kyle Davies(notes) on the disabled list Monday with what the team called a right
shoulder impingement.

Davies is just 1-9 with a 6.75 ERA in 13 starts for Kansas City. He hasn’t
pitched since July 25 at Boston, when he allowed one run on five hits in six
innings without earning a decision.

The veteran right-hander has been hit hard most of the season and has been
clinging to his spot in what had become a six-man starting rotation. Davies’
move to the disabled list is retroactive to July 26.

Kansas City, which had Monday off, plans to recall left-hander Everett
Teaford(notes) from Triple-A Omaha before Tuesday night’s game against Baltimore. He’s
0-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 16 innings with the Royals this season.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Alex Cobb stopped the Kansas City Royals’ winning streak at four games, which matches their season high.

Cobb curbed the Royals on six singles in seven scoreless innings and Ben Zobrist had three hits and drove in two runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat Kansas City 5-0 yesterday.

The Royals had not had a winning streak of more than four games since Sept. 7-11, 2009, when they won five straight.

“We just didn’t come to play today,” said Alex Gordon, who went 0 for 4. “I don’t say this a lot, but we deserved to lose. We didn’t do much. We just didn’t show up to play.”

The difference was the pitching. Cobb walked none before leaving with a blister on his index finger. Royals pitchers walked four and hit four.

Royals starter Felipe Paulino (1-4), who lost for the fourth time in his past five starts, yielded four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out six in 52/3 innings.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Your quote of the day on Monday comes from Seattle Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan, who asks what many of us have been wondering for years.

Brendan Ryan in the clubhouse: “Is Kansas City trying lose this game on purpose?”

Via Ryan Divish. No, Brendan, that’s just Royals baseball.

Surprise, AZ (Sports Network) – The Cactus League contest between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians on Monday has been cancelled due to rain.

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SURPRISE, Ariz. — Veteran infielder Michael Young will be visiting unfamiliar territory Monday, making his first-ever start at first base during the Texas Rangers’ spring training game against the Kansas City Royals.

“I’ve never played a game at first,” Young said.

Not in Little League, high school or even UC-Santa Barbara. Not in the minors, and definitely not during any of his 11 seasons in the major leagues.

So what’s the first thing a newbie first baseman has to do? Get a first baseman’s glove.

“I’m going to work one in right now,” Young said Monday morning as he dressed for workouts. “I’ve being using C.D.’s [Chris Davis] for a while.”

Young, who will use Davis’ glove vs. the Royals on Monday, is still working out his own first baseman’s glove.

He might need a separate locker just for his gloves this season — he’ll have at least three for the different positions he’ll play as a super-utility man. His middle infield glove is smaller than his third baseman’s glove, which is obviously smaller than an oversized first baseman’s glove, which is halfway to a catcher’s mitt.

“It’s definitely different,” Young said. “It’s big.”

Meanwhile, Davis will start Monday’s game at third base, where he’s getting plenty of action this spring while Adrian Beltre is out with a calf strain. Davis said he doesn’t really care if he’s at the hot corner or first base.

“Whatever keeps me in the lineup, to be honest,” Davis said.

First base is considered the easier position to field, and plenty of players have made the transition from third base, catcher and the outfield. Plus, Young isn’t moving there full time, just on a sporadic basis assuming Mitch Moreland wins the position outright. Mike Napoli can also play first.

There are plenty of nuances to playing first base that require practice time to get rhythm, timing and instinct down, such as pick-off throws, general positioning, the stretch and the scoop. For at least his first few games at first, Young will get dugout direction from Rangers coach Dave Anderson and manager Ron Washington.

“I just want him to get over there and get comfortable and get relaxed,” Washington said. “I know if a ground ball goes to him, he’s going to catch it. If a ground ball goes in the infield, he’s going to put himself in position to make the play. There’s nothing special that I’m looking for. I just want him to get through the day. If he gets through the day healthy, I’ll be happy.”

Jeff Caplan covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Follow Jeff Caplan on Twitter: @espn_caplan