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Vargas shines as Royals blank A's

Aug 14, 2014 - 4:51 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Jason Vargas tossed his first complete game of the season and the surging Kansas City Royals bounced back from Tuesday's loss to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 3-0, in the third of four games at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday.

Vargas (9-5) was dominant, retiring the final 23 batters he faced and allowing just three hits while striking out four.

"He was pretty good and got back to being who he was," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Vargas. "He was dynamic and was in complete control."

Omar Infante hit a two-run homer and Salvador Perez supplied a sacrifice fly for the Royals, who have won nine of their last 10 games.

Josh Donaldson doubled while Jonny Gomes and Jed Lowrie each supplied a hit to round out Oakland's subdued offensive performance.

Starter Scott Kazmir (13-5) gave up three runs on seven hits over seven innings for the A's, who have dropped three of their last four.

"At times we're going to get well pitched games against, and today was one of those," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "(Vargas) pitched a great game."

Both teams stranded runners on the corners in the first. Donaldson doubled to left with two outs for Oakland and Gomes singled to place runners at first and third, but Derek Norris struck out to end the frame.

In the home half, Nori Aoki hit a leadoff single and moved to third when Coco Crisp failed to field Billy Butler's single to center. Kazmir fanned Alex Gordon to leave the runners on base.

Kansas City did get on the board in the third. Aoki singled to right with one out before Infante cracked a two-run blast to left.

Christian Colon opened the fifth with a bunt single, moved up to second on Aoki's sacrifice bunt, took third on Infante's base hit and scored on Salvador Perez's sac fly to right.

Game Notes

Vargas threw his sixth career complete game. He has not walked a batter in last 18 1/3 innings ... Kazmir is 0-3 in his last five starts against the Royals ... Kansas City leads the season series, 4-2 ... Time of game: 2:06.