ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals’ offense was silenced by James Shields.

Shields threw a six-hitter for his major league-best eighth complete game this season, Evan Longoria homered and had four RBI and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Royals 4-0 last night.

Kansas City has scored just one run in losing the first two games of the four-game series. The Royals were hitless in five at-bats with runners in scoring position last night and are 2 for 17 in the series.

“We had a couple chances,” Kansas City right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. “Guys like Shields, you get a guy on third and that’s when those guys become their best.”

The lack of offense wasted a solid effort by Jeff Francis (4-12), who gave up four runs and five hits over seven innings. The left-hander retired 15 in a row after allowing the first three batters to reach base in the first.

“I felt about as good as I’ve felt this year,” said Francis, who struck out four. “James Shields kind of just stole the show.”

Shields (11-9) has four shutouts this year. The right-hander is 6-2 in nine career starts against Kansas City.

Longoria drove in two runs on a single during the first and hit a two-run homer in the sixth. He has driven in 12 runs over his last 12 games despite having just nine hits during the stretch.

The time of the contest was 1 hour, 53 minutes — the fastest nine-inning game in Tampa Bay history.

Longoria put the Rays ahead 2-0 with his two-run single in the first. Desmond Jennings was hit by a pitch and Johnny Damon had a bunt single, and both later scored on Longoria’s hit after a double steal.

“You take Longoria out of their lineup and we’re still playing,” Royals Manager Ned Yost said. “But, obviously, you can’t do that.”

Kansas City had two on and no outs in the third but failed to score when Alcides Escobar popped out on a sacrifice attempt and Alex Gordon grounded into a double play.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The next time Jeff Francis faces the Los Angeles Angels, it will be a more meaningful game for the Kansas City Royals left-hander.

Francis gave up six runs, three earned, on five hits and a walk, while striking out seven in five innings as the Angels took advantage of five Royals errors to win 14-6 last night.

The Angels did not bring most of their regulars, but they stroked 15 hits. Hank Conger collected three hits, including a home run, and three RBI. Peter Bourjos also homered, while minor league outfielder Clay Fuller hit a grand slam in the eighth off Royals left-hander Robert Fish.

The Royals and Angels open the season against each other March 31 in Kansas City with Francis scheduled to start the second game of the season.

Did Francis show his entire arsenal against the Angels in an exhibition game?

“I don’t have a big arsenal to show or not show,” Francis said. “There might be a few things that I’m working on executing that I might throw in certain situations that I might not throw” in the regular season. “But for the most part it’s a fastball, it’s a curveball and it’s a” changeup.

“That’s what I do. That’s it. I’m not working on a secret knuckleball. I only know one way to pitch, so I’m preparing for the season. What is there to hide?”

Not even a 100 mile per hour fastball like teammate Jeremy Jeffress throws?

“That’s what I’m holding back,” Francis said and laughed.

The defense betrayed Francis.

“It’s my job to get another out,” Francis said. “I don’t put the blame on anybody but myself. That kind of stuff happens. They’re physical errors.”

Mike Aviles and Lorenzo Cain each committed two errors and Alcides Escobar one, leading to six unearned Angels runs.

Right-handed pitcher Luke Hochevar, who will start the Royals opener, threw 89 pitches, 60 for strikes in 61/3 innings yesterday in a minor league game against Round Rock, the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A club.

He gave up four runs, one unearned, on nine hits. Hochevar threw in a minor league game after his Monday game against Cleveland was rained out.

Copyright 2011 Columbia Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Kansas City Royals catcher Jason Kendall began a light throwing program Wednesday as he starts his return from major shoulder surgery.

Kendall said he intends to be behind the plate on opening day. Royals manager Ned Yost said that was a bit optimistic

The 36-year-old Kendall received the OK to start tossing and swinging the bat a day after being examined by a doctor in Los Angeles. He had extensive tears in his rotator cuff and had surgery in September.

Kendall hit .256 in 118 games last season. He has caught 2,025 games, fifth most in major-league history.

The Royals open the season March 31 against the Los Angeles Angels and Kendall plans on playing.

“Is that going to happen? I have no idea,” Kendall said Wednesday at spring training. “But I will do anything and everything I can to be there. If it’s not going to be March 31, then shortly after that. I’m not going to be stupid about it, but I’m not going to say that I can’t. So right now I’m still looking for opening day.

“I’m way ahead of the game right now as far as I’m where at. I’m still not going to rush it,” he said.

Yost wasn’t sure Kendall would be ready by the end of March.

“That’s a little unrealistic, but he’s an exceptional person in terms of things like that,” Yost said. “I would be surprised if he’s ready by opening day because of the extent of the injury and the extended amount of rehab in something involved in something like that. But if anybody can do it, he could do it. We’ll just take it day-by-day. We’re not going to push this thing.”

“We have to do it right and take it step-by-step,” he said. “If we do, do it right, he’s got another three, four, five years he could play.”

Kendall said he was surprised to see the extent of his injury. An MRI exam showed three tears in his rotator cuff.

“I just figured I needed a couple of weeks off,” Kendall said. “I was wrong. I thought it was something that would go away with rest. I did a good job on it. I definitely didn’t do it half way.

“I did a pretty good number on it. It was complete mashed potatoes. It’s fixed now. I’m excited. It’s probably going to be stronger than it was before. I’m on the right path.”

Kendall said he was playing catch with his 6-year-old son last August and throwing left-handed because of the pain in his right shoulder. His son asked him to throw right-handed “like you do in games” and that is when Kendall realized he needed a MRI on the aching shoulder.

Brayan Pena and rookie Lucas May are expected to do the bulk of the catching until Kendall returns.

“We should all be ecstatic,” Yost said. “He’s way ahead of schedule on it. His doctor was blown away when he saw how far he was. He’s making great progress. We just continue to go step-by-step and get him back into playing shape.

“When we were talking today, he goes, ‘When I get healthy.’ I said, ‘Stop right there, you’re healthy. We’ve just got to get you back into playing shape. For the first time in a long time you’re healthy. Your muscles are all intact. We just have to rebuild the strength and just get to get you back into playing shape,’” Yost said.

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Kansas City Royals catcher Jason Kendall(notes) began a light throwing program Wednesday as he starts his return from major shoulder surgery.

Kendall said he intends to be behind the plate on opening day. Royals manager Ned Yost said that was a bit optimistic

The 36-year-old Kendall received the OK to start tossing and swinging the bat a day after being examined by a doctor in Los Angeles. He had extensive tears in his rotator cuff and had surgery in September.

Kendall hit .256 in 118 games last season. He has caught 2,025 games, fifth most in major league history.

The Royals open the season March 31 against the Los Angeles Angels and Kendall plans on playing.

“Is that going to happen? I have no idea,” Kendall said Wednesday at spring training. “But I will do anything and everything I can to be there. If it’s not going to be March 31, then shortly after that. I’m not going to be stupid about it, but I’m not going to say that I can’t. So right now I’m still looking for opening day.

“I’m way ahead of the game right now as far as I’m where at. I’m still not going to rush it,” he said.

Yost wasn’t sure Kendall would be ready by the end of March.

“That’s a little unrealistic, but he’s an exceptional person in terms of things like that,” Yost said. “I would be surprised if he’s ready by opening day because of the extent of the injury and the extended amount of rehab in something involved in something like that. But if anybody can do it, he could do it. We’ll just take it day-by-day. We’re not going to push this thing.”

“We have to do it right and take it step-by-step,” he said. “If we do, do it right, he’s got another three, four, five years he could play.”

Kendall said he was surprised to see the extent of his injury. An MRI exam showed three tears in his rotator cuff.

“I just figured I needed a couple of weeks off,” Kendall said. “I was wrong. I thought it was something that would go away with rest. I did a good job on it. I definitely didn’t do it half way.

“I did a pretty good number on it. It was complete mashed potatoes. It’s fixed now. I’m excited. It’s probably going to be stronger than it was before. I’m on the right path.”

Kendall said he was playing catch with his 6-year-old son last August and throwing left-handed because of the pain in his right shoulder. His son asked him to throw right-handed “like you do in games” and that is when Kendall realized he needed a MRI on the aching shoulder.

Brayan Pena(notes) and rookie Lucas May(notes) are expected to do the bulk of the catching until Kendall returns.

“We should all be ecstatic,” Yost said. “He’s way ahead of schedule on it. His doctor was blown away when he saw how far he was. He’s making great progress. We just continue to go step-by-step and get him back into playing shape.

“When we were talking today, he goes, ‘When I get healthy.’ I said, ‘Stop right there, you’re healthy. We’ve just got to get you back into playing shape. For the first time in a long time you’re healthy. Your muscles are all intact. We just have to rebuild the strength and just get to get you back into playing shape,”’ Yost said.