Jason Vargas is congratulated by teammates after his complete game.  (photo/MLB)

Jason Vargas is congratulated by teammates after his complete game. (photo/MLB)

Royals starter Jason Vargas retired the final 23 batters he faced, in his third start back from an appendectomy.  Vargas allowed just three hits helping the Royals bounce back from having an eight-game winning streak snapped in a 3-0 win over Oakland. They maintained their half-game lead over Detroit. It was the second shutout by Kansas City starters in the past week and the third complete game this week.

Vargas threw just 97 pitches, including five in the ninth inning as he breezed through a two hour and six minute game.  His last shutout came  last September when he beat Oakland 3-0 as a member of the Angels.

Omar Infante hit a two-run homer and Salvador Perez drove in the other run off Scott Kazmir (13-5), who lost to Kansas City for the second time in 10 days.  Nori Aoki went 2 for 3 against Kazmir, raising his average to .358 against lefties this season.