Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Kansas City- The Oakland A’s downed the Kansas City Royals 2-0 to spoil the Royals’ first game at home this season. A’s pitcher Jharel Cotton was dominant as he went seven innings and allowed just 2 hits. He walked three but struck out six as he evened his record at 1-1. Cotton came to the A’s in the trade that sent Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. Cotton pitched well for the A’s but had a so-so outing against the LA Angels as he gave up five runs in just 4 and 1/3rd innings of work.

The A’s Khris Davis won the game for the A’s in the fourth inning. With one on and no out, Davis smoked his fourth homer of the young season to put the A’s up 2-0. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Santiago Casilla to pitch the eighth and Casilla struck out the side. Sean Doolittle closed out the game for Oakland. He allowed one hit but he, too, struck out the side to earn his first save. The A’s evened their record to 4-4 while KC dropped to 2-5.

The Royals Ian Kennedy pitched well but not well enough. Kennedy was charged with his second loss of the 2017 campaign.

The A’s and Royals are off on Tuesday and will resume play Wednesday night. The A’s Andrew Triggs with a record of 1-0 will pitch for the Green and Gold. The Royals will counter with Jason Hammell. Hammell pitched for the A’s in 2014 and won a championship ring last year with the Chicago Cubs. Game time will be at 5:05 pm