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Francis and Rockies shut down Royals

May 22, 2010 - 11:14 PM KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Jeff Francis and three relievers combined on a six-hitter and Troy Tulowitzki homered to help the Colorado Rockies beat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 on Saturday.

Francis, who won 17 games in 2007 and missed all of last season after having shoulder surgery, earned his first victory since Aug. 25, 2008.

He held the Royals to five hits over 6 1-3 innings while walking two and striking out three. Francis (1-0) has given up just one run and 12 hits in 13 1-3 innings since coming off the disabled list.

Tulowitzki broke up a scoreless pitching duel with a two-out sixth inning home run on the first pitch from right-hander Kyle Davies (3-3). He gave up one run and five hits in six innings. Davies struck out six and for the first time in nine starts this season did not walk a batter.

Left-hander Dusty Hughes replaced Davies to start the seventh and gave up two runs on three hits without retiring a batter. Seth Smith led off the inning with a double and scored on Miguel Olivo's triple. Ian Stewart singled home Olivo.

The Royals threatened in the seventh when David DeJesus doubled and stopped at third on Jose Guillen's single, which finished Francis. Joe Beimel retired Alberto Callaspo on a foul pop up to Olivo. Matt Beisle, the third Rockies pitcher of the inning, got Yuniesky Betancourt to fly out to right to end an 11-pitch battle.

Manuel Corpas worked the ninth for his third save in four opportunities to complete the Rockies' sixth shutout of the season.

The loss snapped the Royals' three-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

Royals reliever Robinson Tejeda pitched for the first time since May 13 and struck out the side in the eighth. He had been sidelined with a strained left calf.

Notes: Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez has a sore left wrist and was held out of the Colorado lineup.