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OAK@SF: Godfrey fans three over five scoreless frames

Graham Godfrey and Danny Duffy got a taste of the big leagues in 2011, but the two starting pitchers -- slated to make their season debuts on Tuesday -- would both like settle into something a little more permanent in 2012.

They'll present their opening arguments when Godfrey's A's take on Duffy's Royals in the second of a three-game series at the Coliseum. It will be a tough act for them to follow after the two pitching staffs combined to allow one run on 10 hits Monday -- a 1-0 win for the A's.

For Duffy, who made 20 starts last season and finished 4-8, he'll be returning to the scene of his first career victory last June, and he'll be pitching in front of his family making the trip up from a few hours south of Oakland.

"It's cool to pitch there, I've pitched well there and it's going to be nice to pitch in front of my family again," he said. "I can't wait -- Game 2, Tuesday."

The Royals appeared to be off to a hot start, taking two of three from the powerhouse Angels over the weekend. But the bats fell silent in Tuesday's loss, as they mustered only three hits.

Monday's defeat was no fault of starting pitcher Luis Mendoza, who added to a brilliant opening run by Royals starting pitchers. They have posted a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings. Duffy, who threw three perfect innings with seven strikeouts in his last spring training start, hopes to continue that trend.

For Oakland, baseball normalcy is finally starting to settle in after a strange first couple of series. After their Tokyo trip to start the season, the A's played a very rare Friday-Saturday two-game set against the Mariners over the weekend.

In a sport built upon routine, it looks like Oakland is finally getting some of that this week. That has to please manager Bob Melvin, who had nothing but praise for his Godfrey, who led the club this spring in both innings and strikeouts.

"He's a competitor," Melvin said. "I've said, too, his stuff doesn't blow you away looking at it. I say it as a compliment to him, in that he competes very hard and expects to do well and believes in himself, and that will take him far."

Royals: Lefties likely back in starting nine
Royals manager Ned Yost gave slumping lefties Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon Monday night off against Oakland southpaw Tommy Milone, but the skipper indicated they'll both be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

"I can almost guarantee it," Yost said.

In the club's first three games of the season, Moustakas had a homer, but was 1-for-11 with four strikeouts. Gordon struck out in the ninth Monday as a pinch-hitter, dropping him to 0-for-14 with seven K's. But Yost seemed confident, noting, "both of those guys are really close to putting it together."

• Shortstop Alcides Escobar has hit safely in each of the Royals' first four games this season and is batting .318.

A's: Barton returns to full-time duty
Daric Barton was back in the A's lineup Monday night for the first time since June 21, 2011. The Oakland first baseman went 0-for-3 with a walk.

Barton's return from shoulder surgery he underwent last August meant Brandon Allen was designated for assignment by the club before Monday's contest.

"From this point on, we expect Daric to be the everyday first baseman," manager Bob Melvin said. "We feel confident about it, or he wouldn't be here at this point."

Obviously the A's are expecting the Barton of 2010 -- when he hit .273 and led the American League in walks for a .393 on-base percentage -- and not the Barton of 2011 -- just a .212 hitter with zero homers in 67 games before being sent to Triple-A Sacramento.

• The A's will play their sixth consecutive night game to start the season Tuesday, a streak that will be snapped with Wednesday's afternoon start.

Worth noting
• Since signing with Oakland before the 2010 season, Coco Crisp has batted .242 with five doubles and eight stolen bases against the Royals, his former club. He went 1-for-4 on Monday.

• With 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Monday, Kansas City lefty Tim Collins lowered his ERA to 1.69 in five appearances against Oakland.

• The A's took each of the last three season series against the Royals, going 17-9 during that stretch.

• The Royals and A's will play two more series this season, but both will take place at Kauffman Stadium.

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