Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Brian Bannister was virtually untouchable through eight innings as the Kansas City Royals avoided a four- game sweep with a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Bannister (4-4) took the win after allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out five batters in his time on the hill.

Jose Guillen and Billy Butler each collected a pair of hits and a run batted in for the Royals, who have posted wins in just two of their last seven contests. Alex Gordon and Mark Teahen accounted for the other Kansas City RBI.

"A shutout is definitely the best medicine for a losing streak," Bannister said. "I was able to do that today and I had my own personal one (4-game losing streak) as well. I'm a competitor and I hate losing. It was just important that I prove that to myself."

Guillermo Quiroz and Luke Scott had the only hits for Baltimore, which saw its three-game win streak halted.

"We came in here and regrouped like I've seen us do before," Baltimore manager Dave Trembly said. "We played some good baseball here. Burres today was walking a tightrope."

Orioles starter Brian Burres (3-4) absorbed the loss after he was roughed up for four runs on nine hits in six innings of work.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Guillen and Butler led off with back-to-back singles, and Teahen followed with an RBI single.

The Royals tacked on another run in the third. Gordon clubbed a single and crossed home when Guillen doubled off the wall in left field.

Joey Gathright walked to lead off the seventh inning, and David DeJesus clubbed a single and made it second and third on the throw. Dennis Sarfate then came on in relief and surrendered a single to Mark Grudzielanek which loaded the bases. Gordon hit into a force out at second, scoring Gathright. One batter later, Butler singled to left to plate DeJesus, and the Royals were sitting on a 4-0 cushion.

Joakim Soria came on in the ninth and got Melvin Mora to pop out, Nick Markakis to go down swinging and Aubrey Huff flied out to center to end the game.

Game Notes

Baltimore had won 12 straight encounters with the Royals prior to Sunday's defeat...Time of game was 2:36...Attendance was 18,635.