Bannister helps Royals end 12-game slide against Orioles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brian Bannister allowed two singles in eight innings and the Kansas City Royals beat Baltimore 4-0 Sunday to end their 12-game skid against the Orioles.

It was Kansas City's first victory over Baltimore since July 25, 2006.

(enlarge photo) Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brian Bannister pitches to Baltimore Orioles' Freddie Bynum during the first inning of a major league baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, May 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Bannister struck out five and walked two to end a personal four-game losing streak. He did not allow a runner to reach second. Joakim Soria tossed a perfect ninth to finish Kansas City's fourth shutout of the year.

Bannister was 0-4 with an 8.02 ERA and had allowed 33 hits in 21 1-3 innings over his previous four starts. He held the Orioles to one hit — a Guillermo Quiroz line drive single to right in the third — in the first six innings and quickly erased him when Luis Hernandez grounded into a double play.

The only other hit Bannister (4-4) allowed was a two-out Luke Scott single in the seventh.

Brian Burres (3-4) allowed four runs and nine hits in six-plus innings for the Orioles.

The Royals led 2-0 after six innings. Jose Guillen singled and scored on Mark Teahen's base hit in the second. Guillen also doubled in Alex Gordon in the third.

Burres, who has lost three consecutive starts, left after walking Joey Gathright and allowing David DeJesus' single with no outs in the seventh. Gathright eventually scored when Gordon grounded into a fielder's choice, and Billy Butler singled in DeJesus.

Gathright took an extra-base hit away from Adam Jones when he made a leaping catch before crashing into the center-field fence in the second.

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